A fire department airlift delivering food to remote Orang Asli villages in Gua Musang is postponed due to adverse weather conditions.
GUA MUSANG: An operation to airlift over 17 tonnes of basic food supplies to remote Orang Asli communities here has been postponed due to bad weather.
The airlift was necessary after land routes to the areas were severely damaged by the Northeast Monsoon.
The Fire and Rescue Department Air Unit had delivered 383 food bags weighing 6,894 kilogrammes over three days prior to the postponement.
Department official Mohd Ruzaidi Ramlee said the supplies were delivered to Kampung Tendrik, Pos Bihai and Pos Gob using Mi-17-IV helicopters from January 6.
“The Department of Orang Asli Development requested that the operation be postponed to a later date due to unfavourable weather conditions,” he said.
The food was destined for five settlements: Pos Gob, Pos Simpor, Pos Belatim, Pos Bihai and Pos Balar.
JAKOA deputy director-general Saiful Zahlan Muhamad Azmi said the delivery of the remaining 573 food baskets would be coordinated soon, subject to weather.
“The operation, scheduled until January 9, had to end earlier on advice from the Fire and Rescue Department,” he stated.
He added that JAKOA distributes food in stages to Orang Asli communities affected by disasters like floods and landslides.
Other qualifying hardships include cut-off access, fires and troubles caused by wild animal attacks.
“For 2025, JAKOA spent nearly RM1.72 million on food baskets for people affected by disasters and other hardships,” he said.
