Villagers to prepare food for flood victims

Change is to ensure affected families can get fresh meals

ALL food preparations at temporary relief centres (PPS) will be done by the villager committee through gotong-rotong, says Johor women’s family and community development committee chairman Khairin Nisa Ismail.

She said the task was previously managed by the Welfare Department (JKM).

“The new regulation will ensure flood victims are able to get their food immediately.

“This is one of the changes agreed upon during the state- level Monsoon Preparation Committee Meeting last month.

“The idea is to ensure that the food is fresh and approved by Health Department medical officers on duty at the relief centres.

“All food prepared will be distributed immediately to the victims staying at the PPS,” she said, adding that the expenses would still be borne by the department.

Those involved in the food preparations will be given a typhoid injection by the local councils, she added.

Khairin Nisa says there are 1,164 PPS in the state.

Khairin Nisa said there are 1,164 PPS registered statewide, with the highest number located in Batu Pahat (232) and Segamat (207).

“There are also 10 food supply stores statewide, with the central store located in Wisma Persekutuan in Johor Baru,” she said, adding that there are also 41 monsoon transit stores.

A total of 13,115 collapsible tents have also been prepared, including 10,000 donated by the Sultan Ibrahim Johor Foundation, she added.

“We have 736 JKM personnel on standby along with 754 JKM volunteers

“They can use 69 JKM vehicles to provide transport for the flood victims at the PPS,” she said.

JKM has also activated their “Bantuan Pangkalan Hadapan” food package initiative Kampung Orang Asli (KOA) settlements and villagers living on the island of Mersing.

“For Mersing, we have distributed 178 packs of food aid to five islands, namely Pulau Sibu, Pulau Aur, Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Besar and Pulau Tinggi.

“We have also distributed 637 packs of food aid to six KOA in Mersing, namely KOA Punan, KOA Tewowoh, KOA Peta, KOA Tanah Abang, and KOA Labong,” she said, adding that food packs were also prepared for residents in Segamat and Kluang.

At present, Malaysia is experiencing heavy rains due to the northeast monsoon season which began in the middle of November and will last until March 2024.