PETALING JAYA: With many areas of Terengganu inundated following unusually heavy monsoon rains, Terengganu MCA has activated its full disaster relief mechanism and deployed teams across all impacted districts to reach anyone needing help, said its chairman Datuk Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew.
Dr Ong herself led a relief team to Cherong Lanjut in Kuala Terengganu, where they distributed food and essential supplies to residents in one of the worst- hit areas.
The team also met victims on the ground to identify their needs and to provide immediate support.
"We went into the affected area, despite the continuous rain, to meet residents directly and distribute food supplies. It is vital that aid is fast and well targeted so no flood victim is left behind," she said in a statement issued by Terengganu MCA yesterday.
In Kemaman, Terengganu MCA rescue unit coordinator Steven Poh led a volunteer team to two temporary evacuation centres, SK Sultan Ismail and the Darul Iman Training Centre (DITC) to distribute aid and check on evacuees' wellbeing.
SK Sultan Ismail sheltered 27 families totalling 117 people, while the DITC housed 49 families comprising 264 individuals.
Terengganu MCA said all eight of its state divisions remain on standby to coordinate aid distribution, mobilise volunteers and support affected communities throughout the monsoon season.
"We will continue to monitor the situation closely. MCA stands with flood victims and remains committed to supporting them during this challenging period," Ong added.
The party also reminded the public to remain vigilant, follow official weather updates and make early preparations as weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable due to climate change.
Terengganu remains the worst-hit state, although the number of evacuees has dropped to 9,584 people from 2,864 families as of noon yesterday, down from 10,399 earlier in the day.
According to the Social Welfare Department's InfoBencana website, Kemaman recorded the highest number of evacuees at 2,271 across 16 evacuation centres, followed by Marang (1,804), Kuala Terengganu (1,662), Kuala Nerus (1,529), Setiu (1,074), Dungun (714), Hulu Terengganu (498) and Besut (32).