Best of our wild blogs: 3 Jan 15

2 Jan 2015: Oil spill off Pedra Branca
from wild shores of singapore

Drongo Cuckoo
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Ah Hua Kelong: 25-Year-Old Young Upstarts Revolutionize Fish Farming from Vulcan Post

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Oil tanker and Singapore-registered bulk carrier collide off Pedra Branca

Channel NewsAsia 2 Jan 15;

SINGAPORE: A Singapore-registered bulk carrier Sinar Kapuas and Libyan-registered oil tanker Alyarmouk collided about 11 nautical miles northeast of Pedra Branca, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Friday (Jan 2).

MPA said it received the report of the collision on Friday at 6am, with the Alyarmouk reporting that one of her cargo tanks sustained damage, resulting in some spillage of crude oil.

Two oil response companies have been activated to combat the spill. The companies deployed four craft equipped with dispersants, oil booms and skimmers to the site, according to MPA.

Alyarmouk was en route from Tanjung Pelapas, Malaysia to China, while Sinar Kapuas was on its way to Singapore from Hong Kong when the incident occurred. The two vessels are currently safely anchored and in stable condition, and there is no report of injury, the press release stated. Alyarmouk's ship managers estimate that 4,500 tonnes of crude oil was spilled from the tanker, said MPA.

MPA had deployed a helicopter to assess the situation once it was notified, and activated oil spill response resources. As part of the procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, MPA notified the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities, it said.

MPA added that it is working closely with the Indonesian authorities in line with the standard operating procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and has offered its assistance in containing the spill.

MPA has issued navigational broadcasts for ships to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site, though traffic in the port and the Strait of Singapore remains unaffected.

MPA is investigating the cause of the collision, it added.

This incident follows an incident also at Pedra Branca on Wednesday, when a Singapore-registered barge ran aground at the island due to "adverse sea conditions".

- CNA/kk/dl


Two vessels collide near Pedra Branca, resulting in some oil spillage
AsiaOne 2 Jan 15;

SINGAPORE: A Libyan-registered oil tanker Alyarmouk collided with Singapore-registered bulk carrier Sinar Kapuas on Friday morning near Pedra Branca, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in a statement.

The incident occurred at 6am about 11 nautical miles north-east of Pedra Branca.

One of the cargo tanks of Alyarmouk sustained damage, resulting in some spillage of crude oil.

MPA said they have deployed a helicopter to assess the situation. Two oil spill response companies were subsequently activated to deploy four craft to combat the spill.

The ship managers of Alyarmouk estimated about 4,500 tonnes of Madura crude oil was spilled from the tanker.

Patches of oil may affect the northern parts of the island of Bintan because of weather conditions and tidal currents, said MPA in its second statement.

Malaysian and Indonesian authorities have also been notified. This is part of standard operating procedures for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

Said MPA: "The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is also working closely with the Indonesian authorities in line with the standard operating procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and has offered its assistance in the containment operations."

The two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored and in stable condition.

MPA has issued navigational broadcasts for ships to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site.

No report of injury has been reported, and traffic in the port and the Strait of Singapore remains unaffected.

MPA said it is investigating the cause of the collision.

Libyan Tanker Spills Crude After Collision Near Singapore
Naomi Christie Bloomberg News 2 Jan 15;

A Libyan crude tanker spilled some of its cargo off Singapore after colliding with another ship, adding to the North African country’s challenges as it contends with escalating violence and a collapsing domestic oil industry.

The Alyarmouk, owned and registered in Libya, collided with the Sinar Kapuas, a dry-bulk ship, in waters northeast of Pedra Branca island, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said on its website today. One of the Alyarmouk’s tanks was damaged in the incident, resulting in the leak, it said.

Worsening violence already halted two of Libya’s three largest ports last month and meant the country with Africa’s biggest reserves pumped 450,000 barrels a day, less than one third of its peak, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Output may deteriorate further this month after Islamist militias set fire six storage tanks at the port of Es Sider, the biggest export terminal. Those blazes have now been extinguished, Libya’s National Oil Corp. said today.

Alyarmouk is owned by Libya’s General National Maritime Transport Co., the state-owned company’s website shows. A person who answered the phone at the company’s offices in Tripoli today said nobody was available to comment. He declined to give his name. One e-mail and a text message weren’t immediately returned. Today is a non-working day in Libya.

About 4,500 metric tons of crude were spilled, according to the port authority. Two oil-response companies are using four craft equipped with dispersants, oil booms and skimmers at the site of the spill that may affect northern parts the Indonesian island of Bintan, it said.

No injuries have been reported and maritime traffic hasn’t been affected, the port authority said. Both vessels are anchored and in a stable condition.

Alyarmouk was en route from Tanjung Pelapas, Malaysia to China, while Sinar Kapuas was destined for Singapore from Hong Kong, according to the port authority.

The tanker was at the Sudanese port of Bashayer on Dec. 1 before sailing to Singapore, according to ship-tracking data from IHS Maritime, a Coulsdon, England-based research company. It can haul more than 100,000 metric tons of crude.

Collision between Oil Tanker Alyarmouk and Bulk Carrier Sinar Kapuas north-east of Pedra Branca
MPA News Release 2 Jan 15;

On 2 January 2015, at about 0600hrs (Singapore Time), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) received a report that a Libyan-registered oil tanker, "Alyarmouk" had collided with a Singapore-registered bulk carrier, "Sinar Kapuas" in Singapore waters about 11 nautical miles north-east of Pedra Branca.

Alyarmouk reported that one of her cargo tanks sustained damage, resulting in spillage of crude oil. Upon notification, MPA deployed a helicopter to assess the situation. Oil spill response resources have also been activated. As part of standard operating procedures for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, MPA has notified the Malaysian and Indonesian Authorities.

The two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored and in stable condition. MPA has issued navigational broadcasts for ships to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site. There is no report of injury, and traffic in the port and the Strait of Singapore remains unaffected.

MPA is investigating the cause of the collision.

Collision between Oil Tanker Alyarmouk and Bulk Carrier Sinar Kapuas north-east of Pedra Branca - Update 1
MPA News Release 2 Jan 15;

Following the collision between Libyan-registered oil tanker, "Alyarmouk" and Singapore-registered bulk carrier, "Sinar Kapuas" reported at about 0600hrs (Singapore Time) on 2 January 2015, two oil spill response companies have been activated to combat the resultant oil spill. The companies have since deployed four craft equipped with dispersants, oil booms and skimmers to the site.

Alyarmouk was en route from Tanjung Pelapas, Malaysia to China, and Sinar Kapuas from Hong Kong to Singapore, when the incident occurred. The ship managers of Alyarmouk V. Ships UK Ltd estimate that 4,500 tonnes of Madura crude oil was spilled from the tanker. Taking into account the weather and tidal currents, patches of oil may affect the northern parts of the island of Bintan.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is also working closely with the Indonesian authorities in line with the standard operating procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and has offered its assistance in the containment operations.

Singapore-registered barge grounded at Pedra Branca
Channel NewsAsia 31 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday (Dec 30) said it is currently salvaging a Singapore-registered barge POE Giant 12, which had ran aground at Pedra Branca due to "adverse sea conditions".

The incident was flagged on Dec 30 at about 6.45am, and the MPA said there have been no reports of oil pollution or injury.

The POE Giant 12 was carrying two bulk loader cranes and left Singapore for Kuantan, Malaysia, on Dec 25. Preliminary investigations indicate that it had turned back towards Singapore after encountering inclement weather, and ran aground at Pedra Branca subsequently, according to the press release.

Salvage operations by the MPA are currently underway in prevailing high sea conditions. The agency is also conducting further investigations into the incident, according to the press release.

- CNA/kk

MPA salvaging grounded barge at Pedra Branca
MPA News Release 31 Dec 14;

On 30 December 2014 at about 0645hrs, a barge POE Giant 12, flagged with the Singapore Registry, ran aground at Pedra Branca. There have been no reports of oil pollution or injury.

The barge, which was carrying two bulk loader cranes, had left Singapore for Kuantan, Malaysia, on 25 December 2014. Preliminary investigations indicate that it had turned back towards Singapore after encountering inclement weather, and subsequently ran aground at Pedra Branca due to the adverse sea conditions.

Salvage operations by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) are currently underway in prevailing heavy sea conditions. MPA is also conducting further investigations into the incident.


Ship Collision Spills Tonnes of Oil in Singapore Strait
News Editor Environment News Wire 3 Jan 15;

SINGAPORE, January 3, 2015 (ENS) – A collision Friday between an oil tanker and a bulk carrier at the eastern end of the Strait of Singapore, where it meets the South China Sea, has spilled thousands of tons of crude oil, threatening white sand beaches and endangered sea turtles in Indonesia.

Early on the morning of January 2, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore received a report that a Libyan-registered oil tanker Alyarmouk had collided with a Singapore-registered bulk carrier Sinar Kapuas in Singapore waters.

The collision occurred about 11 nautical miles northeast of Pedra Branca, an outlying island that is the easternmost point of Singapore.

The Alyarmouk reported that one of her cargo tanks sustained damage. As a result 4,500 metric tonnes (approx. 32,400 barrels) of crude oil were spilled into the Strait of Singapore, according to an estimate by the Alyarmouk’s ship managers, V. Ships UK Ltd.

The Maritime and Port Authority deployed a helicopter to assess the situation.

Two oil spill response companies have been activated to control the spill. The companies have deployed four craft equipped with dispersants, oil booms and skimmers to the site.

The Alyarmouk was en route from Tanjung Pelapas, Malaysia to China, and the Sinar Kapuas was transiting from Hong Kong to Singapore, when the incident occurred, says the MPA.

As part of standard operating procedures for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the Maritime and Port Authority has notified the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities.

The MPA is also working closely with the Indonesian authorities in line with the standard operating procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and has offered its assistance in the containment operations.

The two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored and in stable condition, says the MPA, which has issued navigational broadcasts for ships to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site.

There is no report of injury, and traffic in the port and in the Strait of Singapore remains unaffected. The Maritime and Port Authority is investigating the cause of the collision.

The site of the spill is just 18.6 nautical miles north of Bintan, Indonesia, famous for its beautiful white sand beaches and resorts and artisan fishing and boat-building communities.

Oil spill cleanup workers are battling time and tides to keep the oil from threatening the beaches of Bintan and the sea turtles that swim in Bintan waters.

Six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles frequent Indonesian waters; all species are classed as endangered. On the Bintan Resort beaches hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, and green turtles, Chelonia mydas, have been recorded.

A turtle conservation initiative was started at Bintan Resorts in 2004. Villagers as well as visitors participate in the release of hatchlings during the March – September season.

The Research and Development Department and Environmental & Health Division of Bintan Resort conduct patrols to safeguard sea turtle nests, and they are confident that turtle nests will be protected on Bintan and conserved by local villages.

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Singapore could expect more volatile weather

Feng Zengkun The Straits Times AsiaOne 3 Jan 15;

Singapore could be in for more volatile weather, with experts saying a weak El Nino event could be fully established before the end of next month.

The National Environment Agency has said there is a 70 per cent chance of a weak El Nino. The weather phenomenon typically lasts about nine to 18 months. It is linked to Singapore becoming drier and warmer than usual, especially between June and September, and possibly in October.

However, its impact on rainfall and temperature is unpredictable.

"There were years when relatively weaker events induced more significant changes in rainfall... than the stronger events," said the National Environment Agency.

The El Nino event, if it occurs, would come on the heels of increasingly volatile weather in Singapore. Last year, the country experienced record-setting, long dry spells, even as rain has become more intense over the years.

Few more rainy episodes before likely sunny CNY
Danson Cheong The Straits Times AsiaOne 2 Jan 15;

SINGAPORE - The cool, rainy weather is expected to continue until the end of the month, with the cloudy skies clearing up in February - just in time for Chinese New Year.

There will be "a few rainy episodes" this month, but these are conditions typical of the northeast monsoon, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS).

Total rainfall for the month is expected to be about 242mm, the long-term average for January. February is usually one of the driest months of the year, with a long-term average monthly rainfall of 161mm.

The cooler temperatures and windy conditions of the past week were due to the effects of a north-east monsoon surge, said an MSS spokesman.

Between last Dec 26 and 29, the daily minimum temperature ranged from 23.6 to 24 deg C. The long-term mean daily temperature for December is 23.5 deg C.

"This is a surge of cold air from northern China that results in a steady strengthening of northeasterly winds over the South China Sea," the MSS spokesman explained.

The north-east monsoon typically lasts from late November to January, causing between two and four monsoon surges. These are periods of occasionally windy conditions, cooler temperatures and prolonged and widespread moderate to heavy rain lasting between two and five days.

In November, the north-east monsoon brought heavy thundery showers that resulted in flash floods in several parts of Singapore, including Kovan and Tampines Road.

Intense rain caused water from a canal to overflow into residential areas, trapping parked cars, causing power shutdowns and flooding homes.

Meanwhile, it has been very windy in many parts of Singapore in the past week, with the daily maximum wind speed across the island ranging from 19.6 kmh to 23.6 kmh.

"This was stronger than the average daily maximum wind speed of 18.3kmh for this month," the MSS said.

The strong wind and cooler temperatures have had some Singaporeans feeling the chill, especially at night.

"Sometimes the wind is so cold I open the windows only a small gap, and still use a blanket," said civil servant Choy Tze Wei, 25, who lives in a 14th-floor, four-room flat in Potong Pasir.

The MSS said windy conditions are expected to ease over the next few days with the weakening of the monsoon surge.

Said Ms Choy: "That's a pity, I was just beginning to get used to it."

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Botanic Gardens waiting for Unesco decision

Royston Sim The Straits Times AsiaOne 3 Jan 15;

Singapore could welcome its first World Heritage Site this year, when Unesco decides on the Botanic Gardens' nomination.

The 155-year-old park was nominated in 2012 for Unesco status, and official documents for the bid were submitted last year.

Unesco World Heritage Sites are cultural or natural places deemed to have outstanding universal value.

Spanning 74ha, the Botanic Gardens is a green lung in the heart of Singapore that showcases more than 10,000 types of plants and draws more than four million visitors annually.

The nomination dossier describes the Gardens as "an exceptional example of a British tropical colonial botanic garden" that assembles both historic landscape features and buildings, as well as conserved lowland primary rainforest.

If accepted, the Gardens will join the likes of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Petra in Jordan and the Royal Botanic Gardens in London as Unesco World Heritage sites. A decision on its nomination could be made by June.

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Malaysia: Vegetables to cost more due to damage to crops by floods

The Star 3 Jan 15;

JOHOR BARU: Vegetable prices are increasing due to damage to crops by the floods. With many roads also cut off by the floods, produce has become scarce.

The Government is trying to address the shortage by importing more vegetables.

Checks by The Star here showed prices of vegetables increasing by between 20% and 50% with many vegetable traders saying they were struggling to obtain supplies.

Vegetable trader Idah Mokhtar said, “Even if supplies are available, transportation to bring them over is another major problem”.

“The prices of various vegetables, especially those imported from Cameron Highlands, have increased by at least 20%,” she said at the Larkin market here yesterday.

Idah said tomatoes had risen from RM3 to RM4.50 per kg while cucumber and French beans had shot up from RM0.80 to RM3 per kg and RM6 to RM9 per kg respectively.

At the Tebrau market here, trader Liew Wen said prices for vegetables sourced from Batu Pahat and Cameron Highlands had increased by some 50%.

Johor Fama director Faridulatrash Md Mokri said vegetable supply started getting low about a week ago with prices rising by 40% to 50%.

He said prior to the floods, Came­ron Highlands round cabbage sold at RM1.50 per kg but it was now RM3.

Fresh red chillies, meanwhile, had rocketed from between RM8 and RM10 per kg to between RM14 and RM15.

Faridulatrash said Fama would offer discounts of between 40% and 50% on nine commonly consumed vegetables to customers at farmers’ markets in the state until the end of the month.

In PETALING JAYA, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the import of vegetables and other produce would help maintain supply.

“We are aware there is a shortage of supply, resulting in a spike in prices of vegetables. We expect prices to stabilise once additional imports reach here. However, authorities in charge must also check for traders who are profiteering,” he told The Star.

He said the ministry had also taken steps to ensure there was no shortage in fish supply, halting exports in October and directing the National Fisherman’s Association to buy over all the stock, have it frozen and sold locally during the wet season.

Ismail said farmers in Kelantan were the worst affected as floods had destroyed padi due to be harvested, vegetable farms, fruit orchards, livestock and thousands of fish bred in cages.

“As for livestock, the large tracts of land where poultry farming is carried out is largely outside Kelantan and in areas not affected by the floods, so no (nationwide) shortages are expected,” he said.

The floods, he said, also affected small enterprises in the agro-based industry, adding that losses in this sector would be significant as stock, raw material and machinery that were damaged by rising waters had to be taken into account.

“It will be a while before everything returns to normal and my ministry will do all it can to help the farmers and the small entrepreneurs,” he pledged.

Food supply to be restored within two weeks
The Star 3 Jan 5;

PUTRAJAYA: The supply of food in states badly affected by the floods is expected to be fully restored within two weeks, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek.

He said the period could be shorter if the weather improved.

“The main obstacle is accessibility to the states as many roads had been inundated and closed to traffic.

“There are more than enough supply of food and other essential items for everyone but they could not be sent to the affected areas.

“Let’s pray for good weather so the supplies could reach the affected areas soon,” he said yesterday.

Hasan said efforts were under way to send fuel supply to Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

“We have made arrangements with oil companies to give priority to the three states,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that the Meteorological Department has forecast strong winds and rough seas in the waters off Pahang, eastern Johor, Sarawak, Sabah (Interior, West Coast, and Kudat districts) and Labuan until tomorrow.

It said in a statement that the Category Two winds of 50 to 60km per hour and waves as high as 4.5m were dangerous for all shipping, including ferry services, fishing and coastal activities.

“Similar conditions are expected to prevail in the waters off Samui, Tioman, Bunguran, Reef South and Labuan,” it added.

The department said Category One winds of 40 to 50kph and waves as high as 3.5m would occur up to tomorrow in the waters off Kelantan and Terengganu.

It also said that Category Three north-easterly winds exceeding 60kph and waves higher than 4.5m were expected to occur in the waters off Condore, Reef North, Layang-layang and Palawan.

“These conditions are dangerous for all coastal activities and shipping and also for workers on oil platforms,” it added.

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Malaysia: Floods kill 21, waters recede

AFP Yahoo News 1 Jan 15;

At least 21 people have been killed and eight others are missing after the worst flooding in decades across Malaysia's northeast, police said Wednesday, with almost a quarter of a million people displaced.

They said 14 of the deaths were recorded in the worst-hit state of Kelantan, where some 158,476 people were displaced.

Four people died in Terengganu and three in Pahang state. There are also reports of outbreaks of flu and diarrhoea.

The number forced from their homes in the other affected states -- Pahang, Perak, Terengganu and Johor -- totalled 83,570.

Forecasters Wednesday predicted clear skies for the next three days.

"But we are still in the northeast monsoon period until March. We could expect heavy showers later in the week," a meteorological department official said.

Floodwaters have began to subside in many areas but authorities are bracing for possible disease outbreaks.

Noor Hisham Abdullah, health ministry director-general, said there was no major rise in flood-related diseases at the moment.

"We anticipate that flood victims will come in masses seeking care once the floodwaters start to recede," he said in a Facebook posting.

Rajbans Singh, president of the Malaysian Wellness Society, told AFP that floods can increase the transmission of typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis, malaria and dengue.

The government has been criticised for its slow response after many victims were caught stranded in outlying areas without food and clean water.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, who came under fire after being filmed playing golf with US President Barack Obama in Hawaii when the disaster happened, said he was saddened by the flooding.

"I see so much destruction. It is depressing and sad," he said.

Najib is criss-crossing flood-hit areas and coordinating aid activities.

Ee Su Chuong, 42, the owner of an auto repair shop in Kota Bharu in Kelantan, said many people were taking advantage of the sunny day to clean their mud-filled homes after floodwaters receded.

"But they will return to the relief centres to spend the night because they are unable to cook on their own as most provision shops are still closed," he told AFP.

The National Security Council admitted there were delays in its relief efforts, saying this was partly because some of its staff were flood victims.

"Due to the magnitude of the floods, most districts were completely inundated. Our entire district machinery collapsed as they (staff) had become victims themselves," council secretary Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

Damage to property and infrastructure close to RM1bil
RAZAK AHMAD, MAZWIN NIK ANIS, ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD, JOSEPH KAOS JR, BEH YUEN HUI, ZAZALI MUSA, KATHLEEN ANN KILI, ONG HAN SEAN, WANI MUTHIAH, TASHNY SUKUMARAN, HANIS ZAINAL, CHRISTINE CHEAH, AND R.S.N. MURALI
The Star 3 Jan 15;

PETALING JAYA: Realisation is starting to sink in on just how devastating the floods have been on the country, infrastructure and people.

At the forefront are the thousands of villagers who lost their homes and those who lost their lives in the disaster.

But as the nation moves to recover, it is finding that there are more who have also lost.

Among them are some 69,000 rubber smallholders and up to 50,000 oil palm planters whose plantations are submerged.

They are suffering a loss in income while a lengthy submersion in water can damage the oil palm trees, adding to the cost.

In the worst-hit east coast state of Kelantan alone, there are about 150,000 farmers and livestock breeders with destroyed padi fields and vegetable plots, drowned livestock and swamped fish ponds.

The total damage to property and infrastructure in all the affected states is still being tallied but already the cost is close to RM1bil.

Some officials announced estimates yesterday totalling RM878mil.

This comprises RM350mil to repair damaged schools in five states, RM200mil in property damage, RM100mil to repair roads in Kelantan, RM132mil to repair roads in Terengganu and RM96mil to repair 93 collapsed hillslopes along the damaged roads in four states.

The tally does not include the losses incurred by the rubber, oil palm and agriculture sectors, which are among the main economic activities for residents of the east coast states.

The National Association of Small Holders (Nash) said that about 119,000 smallholders were affected and that a survey to determine the losses they suffered were ongoing.

“This has been a terrible flood and worst hit are oil palm smallholders in Pahang and Terengganu as well as rubber smallholders in Kelantan,” said Datuk Aliasak Ambia, president of Nash.

He said the rubber smallholders needed help in the form of equipment, such as cups and tapping knives, while the oil palm smallholders were hoping for fertiliser aid.

Nash has about 375,000 members who each plant rubber, oil palm and cocoa on plots of land less than 40ha.

Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad said the land development authority was conducting a survey to determine the extent of damage and losses.

“So far, what I can say is that most of the damage has been to our plantations in Gua Musang, Kelantan, and in parts of Pahang,” he said.

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said a more accurate estimate of damage was not yet possible because most of the farmers were still in relief centres.

Also, with the farmers affected, the prices of vegetables are rising nationwide because the commodity has become scarce and inaccessible roads make it difficult to get the produce to market.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s Kelantan office general-manager Md Yuslan Md Yusof also could not put a figure to the damage but added that the flood damaged equipment such as switchgear, transformers, cables, conductors and electricity poles, mostly in Tanah Merah, Gua Musang and Kuala Krai.

Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof said he could only give an accurate estimate on damage once the water subsided.

The Defence Ministry has pledged to help the Works Ministry with manpower to repair damaged public infrastructure, especially roads.

Unless roads are made accessible quickly and the weather improves, the supply of foodstuff in the badly affected states would only be fully restored within two weeks, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek.

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