7 killed, 10,000 evacuated as Penang and Kedah floods worsen

GEORGE TOWN – The authorities have confirmed that seven people have died, while around 10,000 people were evacuated in Penang and Kedah as the flood in peninsula Malaysia worsened on Monday (Nov 6).

Nearly 80 per cent of Penang is flooded, with several areas inundated by 0.2 to one metre of water as a result of heavy rain and strong winds since Thursday.

A total of 5,845 flood evacuees have been placed at 62 relief centres in Penang on Monday morning, compared with 3,779 people the night before.

A police flood operations room spokesman said more areas were inundated with flood waters on Sunday night, forcing more residents to leave their homes.

With the state still reeling from the unprecedented floods, legislators at the Penang legislative assembly set aside their political differences and approved on Monday an emergency motion on the storm.

State executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow tabled the  motion that called on all agencies to improve and review the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) especially in getting information across, mobilising rescue work and channelling assistance to victims effectively.

The motion also called on all relevant agencies to work together to resolve flood issues in the state with the implementation of an overall flood mitigation project while increasing public awareness on the importance of preserving the environment.

No one objected to Mr Chow's motion after it was read out.

The first person to express support of the motion was the state Opposition Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblyman, Mr Muhammad Farid Saad.

“The disaster affected almost everyone in the state and I fully support this motion in extending our condolences to the affected victims and thanking all agencies who went down to assist the victims,” he said.

Meanwhile, over 20,000 students in Penang braved the flood waters on Monday morning to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (Malaysian Certificate of Education or SPM) examination.

Student Mohamad Hakimi Mohd Syed, 17, described the situation as surreal.

“My family lives in Taman Seri Murni (a residential area about 850m from the school) and our home was also inundated by flood waters,” he said.

“It is impossible to fully concentrate on today’s Bahasa Malaysia (Malay language) and Pendidikan Seni (Art) papers — my house is submerged.”

The worsening situation is believed to be caused by the high tide which came in after midnight on Sunday.

Military forces have been deployed to help rescue thousands of displaced people in Penang.

In Alor Star, Kedah, the number of flood evacuees increased to 3,402 people on Monday.

Forty flood relief centres in Kedah state have been open since Friday night.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi visited flood victims in Penang in the morning and is scheduled to visit several flood hit areas in Kulim town, Kedah later in the day.

In Penang, Mr Zahid assured that aid will be distributed to the victims in Penang as soon as tomorrow (Nov 7).

"I have discussed with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim to confirm the list of those being evacuated by today (Nov 6) so aid can be handed out tomorrow,” he said. AGENCIES