THE Armed Forces (MAF) have mobilised its personnel and assets in several areas of flood-ravaged Penang in response to a request for help from Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the military was helping out in all the flood-hit areas, including Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Selatan, Seberang Perai Tengah and the South-West and North-East districts.

“I instructed the MAF to help the flood victims in Penang,” he said in a post today on his Facebook account.

Hishammuddin said MAF personnel had helped evacuate people to safe areas, cleared roads obstructed by uprooted trees and other debris and cleaned up affected areas.

“MAF personnel will do their best to provide all assistance. Let’s all pray that the situation in the flood-hit areas will return to normal soon,” he said.

The military moved in after Lim telephoned Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at 3.30 am today for federal assistance to handle the floods.

Strong winds and heavy rain lashed Penang since yesterday, forcing the evacuation of over 2,000 people from the flooded areas as well as 104 patients and four newborn babies from the Penang Hospital that was also hit by the floods.

Two people have been reported dead, one of them a 75-year-old man who was found drowned in his house in Kampung Masjid, Jalan Perak, and a woman at an old folks home in Jalan P. Ramlee. – Bernama, November 5, 2017.