KUANTAN: The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) has prepared over 25,000 food baskets for the heads of households (KIR) among the Orang Asli communities affected by floods in the state.
Its director, Johari Alwi, said that each food basket includes essential items such as rice, cooking oil, flour, sugar, soy sauce, canned sardines, and salt, sufficient for a week for the family members.
According to him, JAKOA district offices will promptly distribute food baskets when necessary to flood victims in traditional villages and resettlement schemes (RPS) across the state.
He added that in addition to flood victims who have to move to temporary relocation centres (PPS), food baskets are also given to residents cut off due to flooded roads, including landslide-affected areas.
"All District and State Disaster Operation Rooms have been activated since last October to monitor flood incidents and determine the assistance needed for those affected.
"Records show that at least 33 traditional villages and RPS in seven districts in the state are prone to flooding and being cut off," he said when contacted here yesterday.
He added that Pekan and Rompin districts each recorded eight villages and RPS prone to floods and being cut off, followed by Temerloh and Bera (6), Kuantan (3), Lipis, and Maran (1).
Johari said they have instructed officials to monitor the weather continuously and, if continuous rain is expected, direct residents living in low-lying and riverside areas to move to government-provided PPS.
"In the past, JAKOA had to seek assistance from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) using helicopters to deliver supplies to Orang Asli communities in remote villages.
"Flood disasters causing landslides and submerging roads prevent us from delivering food supplies by land routes," he said, emphasising his ongoing efforts to advocate for the well-being of over 94,000 Orang Asli people in Pahang.
Johari added that they received assistance from the central government and the Pahang state government in their efforts to advocate for the Orang Asli, providing various facilities such as food baskets, basic amenities, housing, and healthcare.
