KOTA BARU: Rantau Panjang MP Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff today posted a TikTok video to explain the reason for taking water from a fire hydrant.
She said the move was to help residents in her Rantau Panjang constituency and ease road congestions.
She said residents were faced with water supply shortages for days, prompting her to ask Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB) to provide water to affected people.
"About a week before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri when we wanted to send water to the residents, the lorry used to transport the water got caught up in traffic on a congested road.
"The situation was dangerous as the lorries are big and heavy. We discussed this with AKSB and the firemen on how to solve the problem so that we will not disrupt the roads and the people.
"AKSB then suggested for us to use the fire hydrants," she said in the video which was published by the Kelantan Information and Communications Department.
Siti Zailah said Kelantan's fire hydrants were different with other states as they used AKSB water.
"But the pipelines used by firemen are separate from the ones used to supply water to the public.
"Fire hydrant pipes and AKSB water have the same access, therefore the fire hydrant does not have its own water supply.
"Water which goes through the fire hydrant that is used to put out fire or an emergency, is actually AKSB water." she added.
Siti Zailah was criticised by social media users recently who claimed she was stealing water supply from a fire hydrant and that her actions were inappropriate.
She, however, claimed that the Rantau Panjang fire station had allowed her to take water from a fire hydrant for distribution to local residents.
She also said the department had in the past distributed water to premises such as suraus and schools that needed water.
AKSB in its statement today disclosed that taking water supply from the fire hydrant during times of emergency is allowed.
AKSB said an understanding with the Fire and Rescue Department has been formed regarding this issue especially in dealing with emergencies and for the public interest.