Mosques in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya have opened their doors to shelter hundreds of people who have been stranded due to torrential rains and floods.
The decision to open the mosques was declared Sunday, December 19, by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad.
“Mosques are ready and will also provide the appropriate assistance. The mosques also manage food assistance through the Dapur It’am and Jawi Food Bank programs,” he said in a statement quoted by Bernama.
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Flooding caused by torrential rains in Malaysia has driven more than 15,000 people from their homes, closed dozens of roads, and disrupted shipping.
More than 66,000 personnel from the police, army, and fire department have been mobilized nationwide to help rescue people stranded by floodwaters and take them to shelters.
There are quite number of people stranded and at the moment manage to get shelting at MTAJ Mosque (BJ) and Dewan SPACE U8 Bukit Jelutong Timur. This is emergency and we do not know how long this is going to be. Your help is much appreciated . Thank you. #DaruratBanjir pic.twitter.com/KUit8dftup
— 🐝 #StaySafe 2022 (@mhmdamirkhalil) December 18, 2021
Providing Help
Apart from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, other states affected by the floods are Kelantan, Pahang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu.
In addition to help provided by the mosques, the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) was to provide the necessary assistance to the victims.
The Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) has also turned its mosque into temporary accommodation for all flood victims.
“Special flash flood assistance for UiTM residents has also been established following this incident, managed by the university’s zakat, contribution and waqf division,” it said in a statement.
Floods in Malaysia are common during the annual monsoon season between October and March, particularly on the country’s eastern coast.
But the downpour that started on Friday morning and continued through Saturday hit worst in the western state of Selangor — Malaysia’s wealthiest and most populous region surrounding the capital Kuala Lumpur.