The Star 25 Jan 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of flood victims at relief centres in Sabah increased on Sunday while the situation in Sarawak has improved.
In Sabah, there were 1,233 evacuees compared with 1,214 on Saturday night.
A spokesman of the Beaufort Flood Operations Room said the number of flood victims at two relief centres in the district remained at 195.
In Membakut, two relief centres - Dewan Baru Membakut and SMK Beaufort Dua - recorded an increase from 1,019 to 1,038 evacuees.
The situation in Sarawak, however, improved with 1,684 people being housed at the relief centres.
A spokesman from the National Security Council said there were still nine flood relief centres in operation.
Samarahan division has the highest number of victims at 788 followed by Limbang (570), Miri (249) and Mukah (77).
In Kelantan, all 255 victims from 62 families were still being housed at eight flood relief centres in Kuala Krai. - Bernama
Minister: We need RM1bil for repairs in peninsula
The Star 25 Jan 15;
KUCHING: At least RM1.09bil is needed to carry out repairs on flood-damaged roads and for landslide mitigation infrastructure in Peninsular Malaysia, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said the cost of damage due to floods in Sabah and Sarawak was still being tabulated as the floods in some areas had not receded fully.
“A total of RM45mil has already been distributed to finance repairs that are needed quickly in the peninsula to restore accessibility to areas that have been totally cut-off,” he said here yesterday.
“The roads will be repaired as soon as possible. Or, if that takes a longer time, we need to build alternative routes.
“The overall cost of repairing the roads is estimated at RM660mil,” he said.
Fadillah said his ministry had identified 215 hills that would need suitable landslide mitigation reinforcements.
He said the flood situation in Sarawak had improved and the state Public Works Department was now compiling damage reports for the ministry.
On the road between Limbang and Brunei, which was submerged last week, Fadillah said it was only upgraded five years ago.
“But, clearly that was inadequate,” he said.
Scores of commuters were left stranded on both sides of the border when the road was inundated.
“We increased the road height based on previous flood levels, but we will still need to raise it further,” he added.
The National Security Council reported that there were still 2,761 evacuees at 14 relief shelters across Sarawak as at noon yesterday.
In Kuching, although all relief centres were closed on Friday, two were reopened early yesterday to house 187 evacuees following a downpour.
Floods lead to coconut quotas in Penang
JOLYNN FRANCIS The Star 25 Jan 15;
GEORGE TOWN: An acute shortage of coconuts, caused by the floods that hit many parts of the country, has led a wholesaler in Rangoon Road to set a quota on the number each customer can buy.
Anba Coconut Trading Sdn Bhd owner P. Sarasvathy, 56, said she set the quota last month to cope with the expected coconut shortage for the upcoming Thaipusam celebration.
“Some of my customers have asked for 100 coconuts, but I can only give them 50. However small the amount, I still have to supply them with the coconuts as they have to conduct their businesses.
“I used to have a lorry delivering up to 12,000 coconuts at one time. But, this had been reduced to between 2,300 and 5,000 per delivery,” she told a press conference at her shop yesterday.
Sarasvathy attributed the shortage to the floods which have affected supplies.
“More than 150,000 coconuts were brought in from Kuala Bernam, Perak, last year. But this year, I only managed to get 30,000,” she added.
She said the situation had become so bad that coconuts were being harvested every 25 days instead of the normal 50 to cope with demand .
She believes that the coconut stocks will only fully recover in April or May.
Sarasvathy said she did not sell Indonesian coconuts.
“The shells are too hard and unsuitable for breaking during Thaipusam.
“Even for santan (coconut milk), the Indonesian coconuts are not as tasty,” she said.
Sarasvathy said her wholesale price of RM1.60 per coconut was determined by her contract with the estates.
“My profits are more than enough, so I do not wish to increase the price.
“I am even willing to lower the price if I have enough supply,” she said.
Consumers’ Association of Penang education officer N.V. Subarrow, who was at the press conference, asked the Government to import a higher number of coconuts in view of the demand during Thaipusam.
“The price of a coconut is expected to increase from RM2 to RM2.30 by Feb 3.
“Those planning to break coconuts for Thaipusam are encouraged to reduce the number and spend their money on charity instead,” he added.
Rising dam water levels quench dry season concerns
TASHNY SUKUMARAN The Star 25 Jan 15;
RAWANG: Klang Valley residents should have an easier time enduring this year’s dry period if the water levels at Selangor’s dams mean anything.
The most important of them all – the Sungai Selangor dam in Kuala Kubu Baru – is at 80% of its capacity, said Deputy Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid,
This dam alone supplies 60% of Klang Valley’s needs.
“We will monitor the situation closely, but so far the dam levels are heartening,” Mahdzir told reporters after launching a massive mosquito eradication session here yesterday.
Levels at the Sg Tinggi dam, the Klang Gates dam and the Batu dam are at 68.7%, 98.6%, and 98.7%, respectively, while the Sg Langat dam is full.
“Based on current readings, we have sufficient raw water for the upcoming dry season and the situation will not be as bad as last year,” he said.
He added that people still needed to moderate their consumption as they were currently using too much water.
On a separate note, Mahdzir said his ministry would look into the possibility of setting up solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and rainwater harvesting systems at flood relief centres.
“We are still collecting information from the ground. Each state uses different buildings as relief centres – halls, schools, mosques and so on. We need to find out more information about them,” he said.
Mahdzir added that many relief centres often lacked electricity, which hampered communications as cellphones and other devices could not be charged.
He said many people were unable to contact their friends and relatives during the recent floods in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Perak as their cellphones were out of power.
PV systems could offer some relief while waiting for the electricity supply to be restored, he added.
“Once we have all the information, we can put together a proposal to the Government outlining how many units are needed and the technical specifications.”
