Sibu has been submerged under water for the past 2 days and the situation is not getting any better in the next day or so. The pictures above were the perfect reflection of the seriousness of the flood and the efficiency of the authorities especially the agency in-charged of the flood's rescue and relieve team.
Yesterday, when more than 1/2 of the Sibu township was submerged under water, the whole Special Relieve Center ( set up by the government and among them were the Resident of Sibu, the Adun for Dudong, the Adun of Parlawan, the deputy chairman of the SMC) was still having their meeting in Wisma Sayang by 11:30 am!How did i knew about this? We were at the Rejang Medical Centre when we saw a SMC's truck dropped by with a patient on board and was told by the truck driver that they were sent there as the Special Relieve team was still having the meeting at that time. A few staffs of the Rejang Medical center also overheard our conversation. That was the most unprofessional and unaccepted standard we would expect from the agancy in-charged of the rescue operation as they should operate immediatelywithout having to wait for meeting or discussion by the members, it should work like the Bomba who reacts immediately with a phone call.
Today, when i tried to contact the Special Relieve Center today, there were much difficulties and even when the phone got through, i could not find the person in-charge. It seems that the center is not an emergency relieve center but just a normal government office. There was only a single line phone with the operator who spoke Bahasa Melayu only.
The same thing also happened to the old woman's family when they tried to request assistance to evacuate her from their single-story residence at lane 8, Jalan Tekam. As the water started to pour in last night(12/12) at about 10pm, the family members called 999 for assistance, the call for help was not answered.
Today (13/12)at 11:30pm, the family called the Special Relieve Center to help to evacuate the old lady. They waited until 2:30pm but no help came to them, so they called again and was told that the help would be there within half an hour, i.e at 3:00pm. But what happened? Was it an empty promise or simply a cruel joke?
Fate interfered,luckily for them and the Special Relieve Center, the team of DAP went to the site this afternoon for our rounds, the team headed by the undersigned included Fong Poh Teck(DAP Miri Chairman) , my own wife and wong Leong Kok and another supporter. We were approached by the granddaughter of the old lady who shouted "Help us!" Upon inquiry, we immediately took up the responsibility to evacuate the old lady who suffers mild stroke yaers ago. Luckily everything went smoothly and the whole operation ended in 15-20 minutes.
I must express my thanks to one of the residences of Jalan Tekam who offered us the sampan(small boat) in the first place without which we would not be able to evacuate the old lady immediately and that could brought much anxiety for our team and the family members of the old lady.
2 comments:
This flood reminds me of the flood in U.S.A. Especially the weak who cannot move and in the end, several bodies were seen floating in the flood. Imagine a flood happening in a first world country and the people there cannot do anything about it. When disaster strikes, politicians should quickly go to the place of disaster. Not just relying on the authorities to get the job done. Sibu people should have some form of preparation so that they can help themselves while waiting for the authorities who also have to wait for orders.
the dap flag flying in the water? this sounds like an advertisement. dap may have to consider some donations to buy a boat (not the rocket yet!)
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