PETALING JAYA: From helping with the big clean-up of flooded areas to providing necessities to victims, MCA’s Crisis Relief Squad (CRSM) has continued to be active on the ground nationwide.

       Flood victims in Bentong and Mentakab in Pahang have been sent 600 portable gas stoves, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

       He said the stoves arrived at 5pm on Saturday, with 300 of them handed over to MCA publicity bureau deputy chief Wong Siew Mun, who has been at the scene since the floods began.

       “She and the CRSM will distribute necessities to families that require them.

       “We hope these gas stoves will help the families affected by the floods during these difficult times,” Dr Wee said on Facebook.

       He said the Ayer Hitam CRSM volunteer fire-fighting team also went to Mentakab to provide assistance in flood clean-up work there.

       “In 2006, 2007 and 2010, Ayer Hitam was hit with bad floods with 12,500 victims affected. A total of 31 temporary evacuation centres were opened,” he said.

       “Many volunteers throughout the country came to help us then.

       “Now, those within the Ayer Hitam constituency are going out to lend a helping hand.

       “This is the spirit of the Malaysian Family that we have practised so far and will continue to do so.”

       Dr Wee also spent Christmas Day helping volunteers prepare food boxes to be distributed to flood victims in Selangor, Pahang and Negri Sembilan.

       He joined the CRSM volunteers preparing the packed meals at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

       Other than gas stoves, he said, the flood victims needed mattresses.

       “Apart from food, beverages and medicines, there is an urgent need for mattresses and portable gas stoves to flood victims,” he added.

       Dr Wee said the lorry carrying the gas stoves was already on the way its way to Bentong and Mentakab while for mattresses, they could only be supplied within seven days after the order was made.

       “CRSM is trying to get the supply of mattresses and will distribute to the flood victims as soon as possible after receiving the stock,” he said.

       Dr Wee visited SJK (C) Khai Mun Repas, Kampung Chamang and Kampung Kuala Repas in Bentong to get updates on the current situation in the area.

       He also helped to deliver stoves and food boxes to the victims.

       “The grassroots and local MCA leaders, together with NGOs, already came here to help since the first day of the disaster,” he said.

       He thanked all the volunteers who worked day and night at the CRSM operations centre at the MCA headquarters as well as those who helped clean houses in the flood-hit areas and channelled food to temporary evacuation centres.