Selangor Volunteer (Serve) members spraying MyBiostar EM during the post-flood bioremediation programme at Kampung Padang Jawa in Shah Alam. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
Selangor government needs to beef up resources at flood relief centres (PPS) to enable faster channelling of aid and shelter for those forced to evacuate their homes.
Selangor housing, urban well-being and entrepreneur development committee chairman Rodziah Ismail said this was one of the areas that should be looked into to improve the state’s response time whenever a flood happens.
“All PPS should be prepared whenever a flood warning is released by the Malaysian Meteorological Department.
“This means having enough room, food and other materials such as bedding items for the victims,” she said.
Rodziah also said Selangor was looking into adding more sirens at flood-prone areas to warn the residents.
“Local authorities should also equip themselves with more life vests as the flood last December had shown us that the equipment was lacking,” Rodziah said after the launch of Selangor post-flood bioremediation programme at Kampung Padang Jawa, Shah Alam on Saturday.
Rodziah says local authorities should equip themselves with more life vests.
About 500 volunteers participated in the programme in the village, which was one of the areas hit by severe floods last month.
The volunteers will be using effective microorganisms by MyBiostar to disinfect 25 streets in the residential areas.
Effective microorganisms (EM) are mixed cultures of beneficial naturally-occurring organisms that can be used for various purposes, including neutralising contaminated soil and gases from rotting debris.
Rodziah, who is also Batu Tiga assemblyman, said eight locations in the constituency were badly affected by the flood.
“The flood left behind a foul stench, and there are harmful bacteria that could cause diseases.
“Using EM, it can kill the harmful bacteria and remove the stench,” she said.
Also present during the programme were Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and MyBiostar founder Faisal Idris.
Amirudin said Selangor had now entered the second phase of post-flood clean-up that focused on the rehabilitation of affected areas.
“The state has spent RM12mil to clean up all the waste caused by the flood amounting to 79,000 tonnes.
“The government will look at all suggestions from various agencies as well as Selangor infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim to improve the state’s flood mitigation efforts,” he said.
