GUA MUSANG: The Fire and Rescue Services Department (Bomba) air division delivered food from the state government to Orang Asli who live deep in the jungle here, yesterday (Jan 23).
Subang Central Region Base operations commander Wahyudi Mohd Sayuthi said the operation was scheduled to begin on Friday (Jan 20) but had to be postponed due to bad weather.
"Alhamdulillah yesterday (Jan 23) we were able to resume operation that was initially scheduled for Friday (Jan 20). In this operation, which began at 10am, two aircrafts-- Agusta 109 E (A109E) and Agusta Westland 189 (AW189)-- were used," said Wahyudi at the Gua Musang District Council multi-purpose complex field, yesterday (Jan 23).
Wahyudi said in the operation, which ended at around 4.45pm, food supplies weighing 5.9 tonnes were sent to villagers at a remote village, deep in the jungle,"
"The operation involved 10 flights to Pos Gob, Pos Simpor, Kampung Sempadik, Kampung Gawin and Kampung Ladoi,"
It will continue today-- if the wather permits-- so that the delivery of 25 tonnes of food supplies for 1,413 families can be completed.
"This is not our first rodeo where we had to face bad weather. Regardless of the situation and scenario, we are always committed to carry out the duties entrusted upon us," he said.
According to Wahyudi, the operation was possible thanks to the cooperation and assistance extended by the Gua Musang Bomba station, the Malaysian Civil Defense Force (APM) and the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa).
It was reported earlier that more than 37 tonnes of food supplies will be distributed by the state government to 2,086 Orang Asli families in and around the Gua Musang district, which access had been cut off due to damaged roads.
The food items include rice, sugar, flour, biscuits and canned fish, which will be distributed to 10 villages and settlements including six via air, aided by Bomba's Air Division.