More flood-hit areas cleared
> 10,000 volunteers join MBPP, MPSP personnel to clean up 95% of affected sites
GEORGE TOWN: Local authorities and some 10,000 volunteers worked through the weekend to clear most of the affected areas in Penang following the devastating floods that hit the state.
State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said 95% of the island’s public areas have returned to normal although on the mainland, only 70% were cleared due to the bigger area.
He said the success of the clean-up was due to the tireless effort of the volunteers and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) personnel.
Storms which hit Penang recorded 315mm of rain for a period of 16 consecutive hours on Nov 5 and 6.
Chow told a press conference that they expected the public areas in Penang to be fully cleaned by the end of this week.
Efforts will then shift to helping those most affected by the floods, Chow said.
In another development, Penang collected over RM2.04 million worth of donations and pledges yesterday for its flood relief “Penang Bounce Back” fund.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and senior administration officials received the donations, starting with the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which donated over RM800,000.
Other contributors included the Penang Moral Uplifting Society, Pensonic (M) Sdn Bhd and the Malaysian Medical Association.
Contributions have reached the RM9 million mark.