PAHANG JKM SENDS OVER 224 TONNES OF FOOD TO 165 FORWARD BASES AHEAD OF NORTHEAST MONSOON

KUANTAN, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- The Pahang Department of Social Welfare (JKM) has sent over 224 tonnes of dry food to 165 forward bases across the state in preparation for the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) or rainy season.

Its director, Khairul Amri Ahmad, said that the distribution, which involved an expenditure of RM3.3 million, can meet the needs of communities for between three and 14 days, depending on the location of the forward bases.

"For example, for areas expected to be cut off, such as Tioman Island in Rompin, the supplies are intended to last for 10 days, while for Ulu Tembeling in Jerantut, the supplies are intended for 14 days," he told Bernama.

The forward bases serve as storage points for dry food supplies, which include rice, sugar, chicken curry and sardines as well as coffee, tea, salt, biscuits, and cooking oil. In total, Kuantan has forward bases in 19 locations, Maran (12), Temerloh (33), Bera (12), Jerantut (19), Lipis (18), Raub (11), Bentong (8), and Cameron Highlands (3), as well as 15 in Pekan and Rompin.

Khairul Amri said JKM had also distributed other essential items to all district disaster stores, including mats, blankets, towels, adult diapers, sarongs and bandages, hygiene kits, refreshment kits, and ready-to-eat meals.

Meanwhile, Khairul Amri said that the state JKM had conducted three series of Disaster Management Strengthening Workshops for its staff at the state and district levels, as well as district disaster coordinators, to prepare them mentally, physically, and with the necessary knowledge for the upcoming MTL.

"JKM has also carried out two series of Temporary Relief Centre Management Simulation Training for the centres’ chairpersons, comprising teachers, village heads, and disaster agency personnel," he said, adding that a total of 861 relief centres have been registered to accommodate flood victims in Pahang.

Earlier, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general, Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, announced that the rainy season in Malaysia was expected to begin yesterday until March next year.

He said during this period, five to seven episodes of heavy rainfall are anticipated in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Sarawak, and Sabah.

-- BERNAMA