BY MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR, LOH FOON FONG, ZUHRIN AHMAD, MAZWIN NIK ANIS, SIMON KHOO, NIK NAIZI HUSIN,JOSEPH KAOS JR, D. KANYAKUMARI, M. KUMAR, NURBAITI HAMDAN, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, CHIANG KAH YEE, AND ALICIA WONG HUI YIN
PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet is looking into several long-term solutions, including the construction of dams, to mitigate the severity of flooding.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has also ordered a review of all standard operating procedures and asset deployment strategy during floods.
Sources said the Prime Minister wanted to ensure that the authorities were well-equipped should floods of similar severity occur again.
The Cabinet, he said, was looking at the idea of building dams as it could control peak flows, provide clean water for drinking and irrigation for farming.
Dams could also provide hydroelectricity, while the reservoir created could serve as ecotourism attractions.
On temporary housing for flood victims, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the Cabinet was considering several options, including allowing them to use 2,250 units of houses built under the Housing for the Hardcore Poor Programme (PPRT) in Gua Musang, Kelantan, Kuala Terengganu, as well as Pahang’s Temerloh and Maran.
“We are also looking at providing them with cabins or making use of government quarters and National Service camps as efforts to rebuild houses are underway,” Rahman added.
Another Cabinet member said the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa had been directed to determine the roles and responsibilities of ministries and agencies in the aftermath of the massive floods that hit several states.
“He will decide and determine which agency will be doing what. The urgent thing is to provide immediate temporary shelters for victims.
“The Chief Secretary will have to gather all the necessary data to start the process of rebuilding and reconstruction,” the minister said.
With the new school term starting soon, the minister said he was confident most schools would be able to open in time.
“True, many school furniture were destroyed in the floods but the Government, its agencies and civil servants are working round the clock to get the schools to reopen for the new session,” he added.
National Security Council secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab said the number of houses in Kelantan that were destroyed was 2,660, Terengganu (20) and Perak (17).
“This number could possibly rise because we have not seen the full disaster in Pahang,” he added.
On temporary shelter, Mohamed Thajudeen said the council had put up 100 tents in Gua Musang and planned to put up another 100 at the Sungai Durian army camp.
“Each tent can house between four and six people and has running water, electricity, toilet and bathroom,” he added.
Health D-G: Outbreaks under control
PETALING JAYA: There are close to 13,000 cases of flood-related infectious diseases at relief centres in the devastated east coast states but no deaths so far.
Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 12,765 flood victims were diagnosed with infectious diseases as of Monday.
He said the common diseases treated at the centres were acute respiratory infection, skin problem and fever.
The other infectious ailments monitored for were acute gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, hand-foot-mouth disease, leptospirosis, dengue, typhoid, chicken pox and other notifiable diseases, he added.
“The outbreaks are well controlled with no cases requiring admission,” he said yesterday.
Dr Noor Hisham said there were 10 episodes of food poisoning where the victims were reported to have consumed food prepared more than four hours earlier but there had been no E. coli outbreaks so far.
He said 793 food handlers at relief centres had been vaccinated for typhoid.
“We will continue monitoring the infectious diseases in the centres and in the community as many victims have already returned to their homes,” Dr Noor Hisham added.
He said the active surveillance would continue for at least a month as some diseases had a long incubation period.
He said two helicopters were on standby for the ministry to use for critical cases.
Dr Noor Hisham also advised flood victims to take care of their mental and emotional health.
In Kota Baru, a Health Ministry statement said there had been 54 food poisoning cases since the flood started.
The number of people seeking consultation for acute gastroenteritis had increased from 240 to 280 a week. There were, however, not many cases of cholera or typhoid recorded in Kelantan, the statement said yesterday.
“Officials have inspected and sanitised 20,212 houses in 617 villages and disinfected 15,472 wells and 9,508 premises. Hand sanitisers were also handed out to the people in these areas,” the statement added.
Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital infectious diseases physician Dr Alwi Muhd Besari said the most common diseases treated by the hospital included typhoid or enteric fever, leptospirosis and melioilosis.
“About a month ago, we only had three patients with typhoid, one with leptospirosis and three with melioilosis,” he said, adding that the number had almost tripled since the floods.
A spokesperson for Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II said there had been more cases of typhoid fever, leptospirosis, food poisoning and diarrhoea.
“The numbers have already doubled since the floods started,” she said, but did not give exact statistics.
She feared there were many infected people who were not seeking treatment.
Clean-up exercise likely to cost Government RM20mil
PUTRAJAYA: The clean-up exercise in the flood-affected states of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu is likely to set back the Federal Government by about RM200mil.
Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said it would cost RM78mil to clean up public areas and amenities in areas under local authorities in Kelantan alone.
The ministry has yet to receive estimates from the Pahang and Terengganu governments but expects the cost to be at least RM50mil each.
“We have already raised the issue with the National Disaster Committee headed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and we suggested that the money required to handle post-flood clean-up be placed under the National Security Council.
“We have already started the exercise in Kelantan on Tuesday, with the help of the local authorities, Fire and Rescue Department personnel and volunteers,” he said after flagging off a volunteer team heading for Kelantan.
The 270-strong team comprised Umno’s Urban Affairs Secretariat (SHEB) and non-governmental organisation #TeamRD which will be cleaning up schools in Kuala Krai.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has tasked the ministry to lead the clean-up exercise in states severely hit by the floods.
During the 2007 floods, the ministry spent RM90mil to clean up affected areas in Malacca and Johor.
Rahman said the ministry’s target was to complete the clean-up before the school session starts next week, adding that hospitals were also a priority as the need for medical services was high.
“Our other concern is to remove animal carcasses to prevent people from being exposed to more health risks,” he said.
The authorities were also determining the extent of damage the floods had on landfills, Rahman said.
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