SPM candidates in Penang affected by the floods will get help sitting the examination tomorrow, said Deputy Education Minister II Chong Sin Woon.

“Tomorrow is the start of SPM, and the entire Education Ministry has been mobilised to get the affected areas in Penang ready.

“We’ll identify the schools that won’t be able to let students sit the examination and inform the affected candidates as soon as possible, so they can sit the examination at other centres,” said the MCA Youth chief during his closing speech at the party’s 64th annual general assembly in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Penang Education Department director Shaari Osman told Malay daily Berita Harian earlier today that so far, only one secondary school in Teluk Kumbar was being used as a flood relief centre.

“We have asked all parties to use primary schools for flood relief purposes,” he was quoted as saying.

“Also, we will make sure that the affected SPM candidates get help reaching examination centres.”

He said candidates from flood-affected schools, such as SMK Agama Al-Mashoor (Lelaki) and SMK Seri Mutiara, would sit the examination at the schools’ upper floors.

A special SPM Security Committee, comprising various agencies, had also been set up, he added.

Penang has called on the army for help, following rising floodwaters after nearly 24 hours of heavy rain battered the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, in a Facebook post, said he had never seen such a disaster in Penang, with 80% of the state hit by typhoon-like winds and an incessant downpour.

Among the affected areas in George Town were Kg Masjid, Jalan P. Ramlee, Sg Pinang, Jalan Kebun Lama, Lebuh Carnovan, Jalan Anson and Halaman Bukit Gambir.

Bayan Baru, Bayan Lepas, Batu Ferringghi, Balik Pulau and several areas in Seberang Prai were also hit.

Lim, who was in several flood-hit areas since early this morning, said almost 2,000 people had been evacuated.

Central Seberang Prai was the worst hit, with 1,125 evacuees, followed by northern Seberang Prai (615), and Penang island’s southwest district (158) and northeast district (70). – November 5, 2017.