HELPING HAND : Jabu (second left) receiving the mock cheque from Petronas senior general manager of group coporate affairs division Dato Medan Abdullah witnessed by deputy state secretarty Ose Murang (left) and Petronas Sarawak region general manager Datin Mary Saadiah (right).
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Alfred Jabu has urged members of parliament and state assemblymen to donate at least RM10,000 and RM5,000 respectively to the Resident’s office disaster relief fund in their constituencies.
Jabu who is the chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Relief Committee said that the donations would bolster the fund the state government allocated for each division.
“Each resident should be provided with certain funds, for them to respond quickly without waiting for funds from the disaster committee,” said Jabu after receiving RM50,000 from Petronas at Wisma Bapa Malaysia yesterday.
He said that it was very frustrating for residents and district officers when there was no money for them to rent boats, hire people and buy petrol during floods. Jabu commended residents and district officers from all the 11 divisions who have prepared themselves well for the flood.
Last year, Jabu said Community Emergency Response Teams were formed in various places to create awareness and instill team work in the event of flood.
“They know the drill and we are thankful to the various organisation namely bomba, polis and JPAM for participating in the programme,” said Jabu. Meanwhile, on whether another round of flooding is expected March to April, and Jabu said that the rain patterns was still unpredictable.
“We do not have any telemetric equipment at the seas to monitor the incoming rain and intensity of the clouds,” said Jabu.
“On Dec 25 and 26, in Semerak the rainfall was 585mm while the nearby area, Sadong Jaya have recorded 610mm of rainfall,” said Jabu adding that the figures exceeded the 560mm average rainfall that hit Sarawak in
1963.
1963.
He also said that wind directions may change from time to time making it quite impossible to predict where the rain would fall.
Jabu however gave assurance that flood prone areas had been identified.
“That is why we have requested for 64 more boats (currently 20) from the National Safety Council (Majlis Keselamatan Negara), to mobilise people to assist and alleviate and reduce the suffering of the victims,” said Jabu.
He added that Kapit and Miri divisions would be allocated more boats due to the vastness of their area.
“This is necessary as these places are far,” said Jabu hoping that the federal government would understand the need for these boats in Sarawak.
Jabu said that it is important for the public to get the information on the flood from an authorised source.
Source: The Borneo Post
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