KKUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is taking proactive measures to address telecommunication coverage issues in flood-affected areas to ensure that people can remain in contact with each other.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said this included coordinating infrastructure repairs to ensure connectivity at all 679 temporary relief centres (PPS) in nine states.
"MCMC has taken proactive measures to address coverage issues, particularly telecommunications coverage, in flood-affected areas.
"This includes coordinating repair works on communication infrastructure to ensure that residents can remain connected during the floods.
"I, along with the ministry and MCMC, will continue to ensure that telecommunications and Internet issues, whether in areas where transmitter stations have been impacted or at temporary relief centres, are promptly resolved," he said at the closing ceremony of the Communications Carnival here today.
Fahmi added that the ministry had reactivated the Flood Disaster Relief Fund to alleviate the burden of Communications Ministry personnel affected by floods.
Up to this morning, they included three staff members of Bernama, 26 from the Information Department (Japen), two from the Community Communications Department, 20 from RTM, two from MCMC and one from the ministry.
He said Japen also reported that 23 Madani Communities in Terengganu were affected.
"God-willing, I will discuss with MCMC and Japen on the mobilisation of Madani community teams from unaffected or neighbouring states to assist with post-flood clean-up once the water recedes.
"MCMC will also follow up with further assistance, which will be announced soon," he said.
The number of flood victims in the country continued to rise, with 119,701 people affected in nine states this morning, compared with 102,000 reported last night.
According to the Info Bencana portal of the Social Welfare Department, 119,701 people from 36,032 families were seeking shelter at 697 temporary relief centres up to 7am today.
The states affected by floods are Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Melaka and Johor.