The Communications and Multimedia Ministry has recommended to the National Security Council (NSC) to add sleeping bags and powerbanks in relief supplies for flood victims in the future.

Its minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the two items should be included in the preparation of standard operating procedures (SOP) because the items are part of the management for natural disasters such as floods.

"There are two things that I tried here (Kemaman) which has been effective, the first is the sleeping bag because it is more practical, it can be both a mat and a blanket at the same time to facilitate the delivery process. A lorry can accommodate approximately 1,000 sleeping bags at one time.

"If we send mattresses they will take up space and the delivery process will also be limited," he told reporters after distributing basic necessities to family members of policemen who were affected by floods, at the police quarters in Bukit Mentok, Kemanan.

He added that the powerbanks were important and useful to charge cell phone batteries during blackouts or natural disasters such as floods.

In another development, Ahmad Shabery, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kemaman, visited and expressed his condolence to the six children of the late couple Nur Hayati Sulong, 37 and Suhaimi Awang, 37, who drowned after their boat capsized during the flood evacuation exercise in Kampung Geliga Che Akob, Kemaman last Wednesday.

- Bernama