GEORGE TOWN, Nov 13 — All relief centres in Penang are closed and flood evacuees have returned home while statewide clean-up following the worst flooding here in three decades was 70 per cent complete, said a state executive councillor.

State executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said both local authorities, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MBPP), have together with 10,000 volunteers cleaned 70 per cent of affected areas in Seberang Perai and 95 per cent on Penang island.

“We will ensure that within a week's time, the cleanliness level will be restored to normal,” he said in a press conference today.

Chow said between November 5 and 12, over nine tonnes of waste was cleared from local streets.

“The major challenge now is moving waste from the temporary disposal sites to the landfill, monitoring the local community hygiene to avoid communicable diseases and removing disturbances faced by the residents,” he said.

In the same press conference, MBPP Mayor Datuk Maimunah Sharif said 127 locations were hit by floods in the island, but only four were still to be fully cleaned as of yesterday.

She said a total 118 locations with fallen trees were reported and all except for three along Irrawaddy Road, Batu Gantung Road and Flat Taman Sri Pinang have been cleared.

She said a total 5,889 tonnes of waste have been collected on the island between November 5 and 12.

Maimunah said the remaining four areas that are yet to be cleared are along Zoo Road, Zoo Lane, Taman Nibong, Jalan Ulong and Jalan Lintang.

“We will need another two days to clean those roads due to heavy rain on November 11,” she said.

Those seeking council assistance for cleaning works can call the MBPP flood hotline at 013-5696939 or the MBPP hotline 04-2637000 or 04-2637637.

On the mainland, MPSP president Rozali Mohamud said 71 areas were affected in North Seberang Perai (SPU), 56 in Central Seberang Perai (SPT) and five in South Seberang Perai (SPS) the encompassed 86 villages and 46 residential areas.

A total of 36 relief centres were opened in SPU, 39 in SPT and four in SPS involving 6,713 evacuees in SPU, 4,527 in SPT and 505 in SPS.

He confirmed the last relief centres in all three districts were closed at 5pm on November 11.

Rozali said 5,126 tonnes of waste was cleared as at November 13 and that cleaning works are still ongoing.

“MPSP received a total 427 reports of fallen trees involving 945 trees and as at November 12, 365 cases have been resolved,” he said.