Social Welfare Dept personnel stockpiling essential items to be supplied to flood victims. The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will seek other states' help, as well as the department and relevant agencies, if Kelantan wholesalers and retailers are unable to keep channels for essential and controlled goods open because of floods. – BERNAMA filepic
KOTA BARU: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will seek the help of other states if wholesalers and retailers appointed to store controlled and essential goods during the flood season are unable to function because of the floods.
Its Kelantan director Azman Ismail said that for the time being, if wholesalers and retailers appointed in any district are affected by floods, the nearest unaffected district will help with supplies of controlled goods.
"Currently, each district has appointed wholesalers and retailers to store controlled goods ... supplies will be channelled first from the nearest wholesalers and retailers that are not affected by the flood.
"We did this during the severe floods in 2014. If the current situation continues and causes the entire state to be down, we will seek assistance from other states directly (through) Subang (Air) Base," he said in a recent interview.
The media previously reported that the ministry appointed 133 wholesalers and retailers to store controlled goods in excess of the quota in the state to face the monsoon season.
According to the report, Azman said they were allowed to increase and store scheduled controlled goods by 30% for five months, from November to March.
Azman said the ministry would prepare for any eventuality, including increasing cooperation with agencies involved such as the Social Welfare Department, the state security council and district offices for updates on the flood situation.
"We hope that the people of this state will not panic over the supply of goods (as) the ministry will do its best to ensure sufficient controlled goods during the flood season for the people of Kelantan," he said. – Bernama
