By K.M. LEW


ALOR SETAR: Several new areas in Kedah have been hit by floods, including Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak’s home at Jalan Sultanah here.
     Azizan, who lives in the house with his wife Tok Puah Faekah Sheikh Hamzah and son Mohamad Azizan, 28, moved out from the house at about 11am yesterday after it was submerged in one metre of water.
     Also flooded was the compound of the state police contingent at Jalan Stadium.

Steady hands: Fire and Rescue Department officers carrying former principal of Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Baharuddin Abd Majid, 64, to drier ground after floods inundated his house in Taman Uda, Alor Setar, yesterday.

     The number of evacuees in the state has increased to 40,212 as Taman Uda, Lorong Bayu, Taman PKNK and Taman Rakyat in Kota Setar were also hit by floods.
     Azizan, when met after chairing a meeting with federal and state government agencies, said 140 relief centres had been opened in Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena and Padang Terap.
     A National Security Council operations room spokesman said 100 evacuation centres were still open.
     Meanwhile, the Langkawi Recreation Club and nine other non-governmental organisations have launched a flood relief fund for the state.

Proving that nothing can stop the joyful celebrations of this Festival of Lights, Alor Setar MIC Youth chief W. Thiruchandru, 32, (right) and his friends (all seated) attending the Deepavali celebrations at the home of contractor K. Murugan, 51, (left) and his wife R. Rajama, 54, at their flooded house at Kampung Telok, Sungai Korok, Alor Setar yesterday.

     Club president Datuk Mansor Ismail said they hoped to collect as much as possible during the one-month fund-raising period until Dec 5, to be channelled to the flood victims.
     In Kangar, the floods eased slightly yesterday morning, with 1,375 of 15,159 evacuees allowed to return home and 11 of the 55 evacuation centres closed.
     But state Drainage and Irrigation Department director Nishad Mohamed Shaffy has warned about the possibility of a second wave of flooding.
     He said if there was heavy rainfall in the next few days, the department might be forced to re-open the six floodgates at the Timah Tasoh dam.
     The water level in Kangar had subsided significantly but several roads were still impassable to light vehicles.
     In Kota Baru, the Kelantan Welfare Department has assured the people that it will be able to provide foodstuff to flood victims for up to 10 days.
     Its director, Mohd Noor Chik, said the RM100,000 allocation would ensure there was enough food for evacuees during the period should a second wave of flooding hit the state.
      The floods had subsided in Kelantan, with 475 evacuees allowed to return home.