Urgent RM1k aid to be given to all flood victims - minister

 

The RM1,000 government cash aid (Bantuan Wang Ihsan) will be given to every household affected by floods and other disasters related to the Northeast Monsoon once complete information has been furnished by the state and district Disaster Management Committees, said Armizan Mohd Ali.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs, and Special Functions) assured that the aid would be disbursed through the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) not later than a week after the incident.

“There will be no delays on the part of Nadma. This commitment on immediate aid disbursement has also been made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his capacity as Central Disaster Management Committee chairperson,” he told a press conference after attending a briefing at the Muar Disaster Operations Control Centre today.

He had earlier visited the flood relief centres at IKTBN Pagoh and Dewan Serbaguna Pagoh.

Armizan said the government understood that state and district Disaster Management Committees needed a bit of time to verify data and statistics to avoid duplication and ensure that only eligible victims would be given the aid.

He said this was because some victims were not evacuated to relief centres and their particulars had to be verified with various parties like penghulu, village heads, or the district office.

“This (aid) comes from public funds and there are standard operating procedures to be followed although we have reduced the red tape,” he said, adding that the aid would come in handy for the victims.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Armizan Mohd Ali

He also said additional teams from the Civil Defence Force and Social Welfare Department from several states were expected to arrive in Johor today to help in flood relief work.

Armizan said according to a report issued by the National Disaster Control Centre, a series of 14 warnings on continuous heavy rain were issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) throughout the Northeast Monsoon 2022/2023.

“Monsoon surges are expected to continue until March 6, with forecasts of continuous rain in southern Peninsular Malaysia and thunderstorms in west Sarawak from evening to early morning,” he added.

MetMalaysia has also forecast danger-level torrential rain in Segamat, Kluang, and Mersing until tomorrow.

- Bernama