MEMBAKUT: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday announced that a multi-purpose hall will be built in Beaufort, which can double as an evacuation centre in case of a flood in the district.
Muhyiddin said the request for a permanent relief centre needs to be carefully studied as the government did not want it to go to waste and it was also subject to whether the state has available land.
“We can utilise any multi-purpose or school halls to provide temporary shelter for flood victims,” he said to reporters after visiting flood victims at Sekolah Menengah St Patrick and the Membakut Multi-Purpose Hall, adding that the government may also consider the possibility of relocating flood-prone villages to higher ground.
During the event, Muhyiddin expressed his satisfaction with the handling of the flood situation and the victims in Sabah and also said that he wants faster disbursement of cash and other aid to the flood victims in Sabah, especially when they return home.
“As long as the flood victims are registered with the relevant state and federal agencies responsible for providing aid, they are entitled to government aid,” he added.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin assured that Putrajaya will provide the same assistance to East Malaysian flood victims as those distributed in Peninsular Malaysia.
He also appealed for more volunteers from private sectors and individuals to help flood victims rebuild their lives.
Although the water level has begun receding in several villages, 2,946 people remained at nine relief centres in Beaufort and here.
Two relief centres have been closed in Beaufort but four are still providing temporary shelter to 744 people from 249 families, while 2,697 people from 832 families are still placed at five relief centres here.