Penang all ready for the floods
GEORGE TOWN: Penang was “not prepared” for the magnitude of the floods last November, but it will not be caught off guard again this year, the state government has declared.
State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said with only weeks to go before the anniversary of the floods that nearly crippled the state after a tempest last Nov 4 and 5, Phee said the state was leaving nothing to chance.
“We have 44 new boats now, thanks to NGOs who care. Some of the boats have V-hulls and are deployed in areas near rivers where the floods may be deep and have strong currents.
“Some are flat-bottom boats that will float in just a few inches of water. There are rescue workers to deliver relief supplies to flood victims in their homes or ferry them to higher ground from stagnant waters,” he said, adding that 26 of the boats were given by the Taiwanese Malaysia Alumni Association and 18 by Rotary Clubs of District 3300.
The 18 aluminium flat-bottom boats from the Rotary Clubs have arrived in the Bagan Ajam voluntary fire squad base in Butterworth and Phee said they would be deployed to all voluntary fire squads.
Popularly called “Jon Boats” by freshwater anglers, the flat-bottom boats are so stable that people can walk up and down the crafts without rocking them.
While not suitable for use in choppy waters, it is ideal in flat waters and can be handled even by those who are not familiar with boating.
The Rotary Clubs bought the boats for about RM60,000 which came complete with metal oars, which can withstand being pushed against flooded tarred roads.
Rotary Club of George Town president Soh Yew Aun said the boats were bought with money left over from almost RM200,000 pooled together by nearly all Rotary Clubs in Malaysia and also several from abroad.
“Immediately after the floods hit Penang last year, we started a donation drive. Much of the money was spent on disaster relief. I remember us buying thousands of mattresses.
“The state told us they needed boats to get ready for this year’s storms, and we were more than happy to help. We are glad the
boats arrived on time and we will be on standby to help if it floods again,” said Soh.
Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Society Malaysia’s Penang commissioner Khoo Boo Leong said the welfare society was able to prepare up to 24,000 meals at any one time.
“That is just our instant rice. With hot water, the rice with vegetarian condiments is ready in 20 minutes. With room temperature water, it will take 45 minutes to cook.
“All our members helped during the floods last November, and we are ready again, ” he said.