Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has announced that the government will be providing RM100 million to repair houses and infrastructure damaged in the massive floods due to the heavy downpour over the weekend.
In addition, he said RM50 million will be channeled to the National Disaster Relief Fund for disbursement, and each household affected by the flood will receive RM1,000, reported Malay Mail.
“In September, the government raised compassionate aid to RM1,000 per household and we will expedite the payments to areas affected by the floods such as Selangor and six other states,” he said on his official Twitter account.
Sejak September 2021, Kerajaan telah meningkatkan kadar Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) kepada RM1,000 (dari RM500 sebelum ini) bagi setiap isi rumah.
— Ismail Sabri (@IsmailSabri60) December 19, 2021
Bayaran bantuan ini akan disegerakan bagi meringankan beban mereka yang terkesan dengan bencana ini.
He added that the government is aware of the extent of damage caused by the ongoing massive floods that had hit several states.
Ismail also announced an emergency leave for all civil servants affected by the floods and urged companies in the private sector to offer paid leave for their employees.
It is reported that the flood has caused about 21,000 people to be displaced, especially those in central states of Pahang, Selangor and the national capital Kuala Lumpur.
Many were left stranded in their vehicles on roads or trapped in homes surrounded by muddy waters, waiting to be rescued.
At the same time, these flood victims had not eaten nor had drinking water for over 24 hours as water utility company Air Selangor announced water disruption affecting over 470 areas in the Klang Valley due to the forced shutdown of two treatment plants damaged by floods and the partial closure of a third plant.
The Prime Minister said the government will be working with the state governments to provide aid to the flood victims too.
Saya juga telah mengarahkan Kementerian Kewangan supaya institusi perbankan bersedia untuk menawarkan program bantuan pembayaran bagi peminjam-peminjam yang terkesan akibat banjir.
— Ismail Sabri (@IsmailSabri60) December 19, 2021
“I have ordered the Finance Ministry to ready banking institutions to offer payment aid to borrowers affected by the flood,” he tweeted.
He also assured the victims that the evacuation centres will have sufficient basic amenities, face masks, and food for those sheltering within.
At least one doctor and a nurse will be stationed at each evacuation centre to attend to the displaced people and carry out Covid-19 tests to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.
