Cabinet panel to make long-term plans on tackling floods

 

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government spent more than RM6 billion after the floods last December.

BERA: The central disaster management committee will meet next week to discuss flood issues with the relevant ministries and state governments.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the meeting will touch on long-term plans on flood mitigation and reducing the impact of the disaster.

“We want to resolve it comprehensively and make sure the problems don’t recur, as in the end, the government will have to spend a lot every year.

“This year alone we spent over RM6 billion; if this was used on flood mitigation projects, we might be able to solve the issue.

“We want the views of ministries and state governments because if we want to build houses for flood victims, the land comes under their jurisdiction,” he said here today.

Ismail was speaking to reporters after presenting financial aid to 1,157 household heads from Bera district affected by the recent floods.

He said the aid would be expedited to ease the burden of flood victims. - FMT