KUCHING: The Samariang Service Centre is on standby mode for floods which might occur during yearend downpours, while it rolled out back-to-school gear for needy students in the New Year.

According to Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, the service centre will work together with the state government, state disaster control centre and the resident’s office to assist those affected.

“With the possibility of flooding, especially during the monsoon season now, the emergency and rescue team are always on standby mode and we and other members of the party will work together with all related agencies to assist victims,” said Sharifah Hasidah.

She elaborated that an emergency response (ER) team must be formed in Samariang to coordinate and inform the relevant authorities on any alarming situation.

Sharifah Hasidah was met by reporters after presenting schooling equipment to students for the Program Sayang 1Samariang at Kampung Samariang Baru Phase 3 yesterday.

Earlier at the event, Sharifah Hasidah said the programme yesterday was an idea by the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Samariang economics and education bureau, with the aim to lessen the burden of the recipients’ families, who were mostly from the low income bracket.

“The progamme is also a statement of the government’s commitment to provide better education and we believe that while this assistance might look small, it will at least help the families in another way round,” he said.

Sharifah Hasidah later on said the programme was made possible with assistance from various companies and organisations such as Community Development Department, Harwood Timber Sdn Bhd, Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak, and Tabung Haji.

A total of 130 recipients received their schooling paraphernalia such as bags and stationeries, while the event yesterday was the sixth instalment to the programe giveaway which saw a total of 1,100 recipients from around Samariang.

Among those present at the event were PBB Samariang vice chief Abdul Badri Sahmat, and Kampung Samariang Baru Phase 3 PBB Women’s chief Rokiah Abdullah.