PETALING JAYA: Flooding across four states has forced more than 12,000 people from their homes, with Pahang bearing the brunt as evacuation centres filled rapidly amid rising water levels.
As of 4.45pm yesterday, 12,281 evacuees from 4,022 families were sheltering at 98 temporary evacuation centres, according to the Social Welfare Department Info Bencana dashboard.
Of the total, 8,005 were adults, 3,904 children and 372 infants.
They included 1,127 elderly persons and 404 people with disabilities.
Pahang accounted for the vast majority of evacuees, with 11,187 from 3,711 families housed at 79 centres.
In Kuantan, several centres recorded high occupancy levels, including Balairaya Kampung Itram, which housed 144 evacuees from 54 families.
Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Belukar sheltered 69 evacuees, while Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Sengkolo housed 66.
In Pekan, Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah recorded 192 evacuees from 65 families.
Meanwhile, Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanjung Gemuk in Pulau Tioman, Rompin sheltered 73 people.
Smaller numbers were reported at centres in Jerantut, including Sekolah Kebangsaan Teh, which housed 13 evacuees.
In Terengganu, 593 evacuees from 184 families were accommodated at 15 centres, with Kemaman emerging as the main pressure point.
Dewan Sivik Felda Seberang Tayor recorded 161 evacuees from 50 families, while Surau Kampung Ban Ho in Air Putih housed 34.
Johor reported 356 evacuees from 93 families, all accommodated at three centres in Mersing since Dec 17, while Kelantan recorded 145 evacuees from 34 families at a single centre in Gua Musang, Sekolah Kebangsaan Lebir.
Amid the surge of flood reports in Pahang, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail urged the public not to circulate unverified information, warning that it could cause unnecessary anxiety among affected families and those outside flood-hit areas.
He cautioned that misleading information could create misunderstanding and tension, particularly among relatives who might believe conditions at relief centres were worse than they actually were.
“In situations like this, people should offer support, cooperation and encouragement, not spread information that does not benefit anyone,” he said after visiting flood evacuees at the Jaya Gading community hall relief centre in Kuantan.
Wan Rosdy acknowledged there had been minor delays during the early stages of evacuation and aid distribution, but added that such issues were unavoidable given the weather conditions and the scale of movement involved.
“I do not deny there were some delays, but food did reach those affected.
“If there were delays, they were brief, perhaps an hour or so and not as claimed on social media.”
He said state agencies had made early preparations through the Pahang Disaster Management Committee and noted that conditions at the relief centres he visited were orderly, with residents understanding that temporary evacuation facilities could not replicate conditions at home.
