Perak govt to create volunteer squad to deliver flood aid

MANJUNG: The Perak government intends to establish a volunteer team specifically to provide aid during and after disasters, says state Women, Family, Social Welfare and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman Salbiah Mohamed.

"There are volunteers at party level but at state level, we have suggested the creation of a volunteer squad for floods.

"We need to make preparations before floods occur. We already have a team ready to assist and they can also help clean affected residences, schools and public buildings as well as channel immediate aid to flood victims," she said during a visit to a flood relief centre at Sekolah Agama Rakyat Padang Serai near Beruas on Friday (Nov 25).

Currently there are 297 evacuees from 86 families housed at four centres in the districts of Larut Matang and Selama, Manjung and Hilir Perak.

Meanwhile, Pengkalan Baharu assemblyman Azman Noh said the flood situation in the area was not caused by drainage problems but because sewers could not deal with heavy rainfall.

"I hope the government will immediately implement the RM30mil Sungai Beruas basin flood mitigation project scheduled to begin next year.

"If it is, flood problems at Kampung Kilang, Kampung Paya Ara, Kampung Paya Lima, Kampung Tualang, Kampung Pulau Kabung and Kampung Padang Serai would be solved," he said.– Bernama