Flash floods have hit several low-lying areas in Tenang where a by-election is underway, forcing the evacuation of over 200 people so far, with police preparing to deploy boats to ferry voters should the situation worsens.

NONE A police spokesman at the force's by-election tactical operations room, Supt Abdul Aziz Ahmad, said 215 people were evacuated to flood relief centres as at 10am.

The flooded areas are Felda Simpang Redong, Ladang North Labis, Ladang Voules and Pekan Air Panas.

Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar told Bernama when contacted that as of noon today, there were no polling centres affected by the floods.

Polling in all 12 centres was running smoothly, he said.

 

"Despite the rain, the voter turnout is good. As of noon, the turnout was 48.93 percent or 7,219 of 14,753 voters," he said.

Several stretches of roads inundated

Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz said of the number of evacuees, 84 were from Kampung Usaha Jaya, 55 from Kampung Paya Dalam, 36 from Kampung Pekan Air Panas, 21 from Kampung Lembah Bakti, 13 from Kampung Bukit Dato and six from Kampung Sekijang.

NONE He said that so far, roads leading to the polling centres were still passable although the floods had inundated several stretches.

Police had deployed personnel to man the traffic, he said.

"We have also readied boats to ferry the voters. There are several other areas hit by flash floods but the situation is not serious and the roads are passable to all vehicles," he said.

Among roads affected by the floods are Jalan Segamat-Labis at Felda Redong junction as well as the roads leading to North Labis, Ladang Voules and Kampung Sawah Baru.

On the by-election, he said, there were no untoward incidents reported so far.

- Bernama