CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The Armed Forces have put all their aircraft on standby to deliver essentials to flood victims in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Perlis and Sabah.
The preparation is to ensure the smooth rescue operations as roads to several relief centres have been blocked by floodwaters and landslides.
Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Dr Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said the military was also prepared to mobilise more of its forward hospitals to areas affected by the disaster, especially those with high numbers of evacuees.
“To face the high tide phenomenon, which is also expected soon, I have ordered all military assets to be put on standby for immediate mobilisation.
“Our assets and personnel are ready to help flood victims and provide assistance at relief centres,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the Slim Camp here yesterday, Zulkifeli said the army was working hard to deliver food items to the disaster areas, especially in the Gua Musang and Kuala Krai districts in Kelantan which were badly hit.
Zulkifeli said the closed roads had made it difficult to deliver the aid, hence the military decided to deploy their air transport assets.
He said a military convoy transporting clean water supplies to Kelantan from Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday was diverted to Ipoh after the East West Highway near Gerik here was closed due to a landslide on Tuesday.
The Territorial Army’s Royal Engineers Regiment’s (RAJD) Water Experts Regiment (Rejimen Pakar Pengendali Air Ke-60 RAJD), which was transporting 50,000 litres of clean water on board the 20 three-tonne trucks and two low loader trailers, was ordered to head to the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh.
The 10,000 bottles of water were then loaded onto a Hercules C130 aircraft, which departed for the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Baru about 5.18pm yesterday.
It arrived in Kota Baru at 6pm. By Hariz Mohd