The flood that hit the Tenang state constituency which had a by-election today, not only caused problems to voters, officials and press reporters were also left stranded when the roads leading to the polling centres were inundated.

NONEDeputy Prime Minister (DPM) Muhyiddin Yassin who visited some of the polling centres were also stranded in the flood when visiting SMK Kamarul Ariffin, one of the polling centres, together with several accompanying officials and press reporters.

Muhyiddin was later taken out of the area on an army truck (left).

Also trapped in the flood were Bernama Johor Bureau chief Mohd Haikal Isa and photographer Ismail Abdullah.

"After attending the DPM's press conference at SMK Kamarul Ariffin's teachers' quarters, I wanted to return to Labis town but the bridge in Kampung Paya Merah was not passable as it was submerged in flood water.

"Ismail and I tried to find an alternative route through Kampung Sawah Baru. However, the bridge there was also submerged in flood water," said Mohd Haikal, adding that there was no other alternative route.

"I am still in Pekan Air Panas where the electricity supply has been disrupted, probably due to the flood."

Utusan Malaysia reporter Kamil Maslih said as for now, he and nine colleagues still remained at their operation centre, a rented house in Kampung Sungai Gatom, although the house was under two feet of water.

NONE"We may move to the community hall or any other safe place to continue our coverage of the by-election," he said.

Three Malaysikini reporters (right) were also stranded at SMK Kamarul Ariffin and could only leave the area on an army truck.

However, their news coverage was not affected as three of their colleagues were at the media centre in Taman Sri Bayu in the Labis new township.

A reporter with the Malaysian Digest news portal, Ahmad Aidil Syukri, said  reporters' coverage in all 12 polling centres was affected by the flood.

"It's dangerous because the roads are narrow, slippery and winding while visibility is hampered.

"The situation is challenging for us journalists travelling in our vehicles, but today is 'the' day and we have to move around fast to provide news coverage on the by-election," he said.

Another  reporter, only known as Firdaus, said he had difficulty returning to his rented house-cum-media operaton centre as the road to the house was inundated and closed to traffic by the police.

NONEA team of Bernama reporters was also stranded as the road to their rented house-cum-operation centre in Taman Berjaya 2 was also cut off when the Labis old town area was under one metre of flood water.

Bernama's operation was also affected as their Internet connection and telephone lines were disrupted.

According to a Telekom Malaysia spokesman, it was due to its telephone exchange here being submerged in flood water while its technicians from Segamat could not come to help repair the damage as the Segamat-Labis road was closed to traffic due to the flood.

Meanwhile, eight flood evacuation centres for flood victims have been opened in Labis which are currently accommodating 1,317 victims, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Jalil.

She said among the flood victims taking shelter at the relief centres were voters in the Tenang state constituency which held a by-election today.

In a statement released from Kuala Lumpur, Shahrizat said the whole machinery under the Johor Social Welfare Department had been directed to be present in the district to distribute aid to the victims.

- Bernama