Ahmad: RM500 for each evacuated family

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Ahmad (left) and Jabu (second left) are seen going through some data prior to the briefing. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

KUCHING: Putrajaya will dole out compassionate funds of RM500 each to 1,691 evacuated families in the state besides looking into the feasibility of granting extra allocations for damage to crops and livestock due to the recent floods.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the allocation would benefit 5,796 individuals while some families would receive between RM800 and over RM1,000 in government assistance apart from the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M).

“Some of them have already received BR1M RM300 as well as Children’s Aid of RM100 each, and now this RM500. Depending on the number of children, some families may receive over a thousand.

“We will also be studying the damages done to crops and livestock. The issue will be brought to the attention of Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who will be in Limbang tomorrow,” he told a news conference after attending a briefing at the Operations Room at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, who was also present, said Muhyiddin would visit a few evacuation centres in Limbang today. Jabu is also heading the State Disaster Relief Committee.

Ahmad said the allocation as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak some days ago was for the whole nation including Sarawak and Sabah.

Among the allocations announced were RM500 million for the rehabilitation and welfare programme for flood victims, RM800 million for repair and reconstruction of schools, hospitals, roads and bridges, and RM893 million for flood mitigation projects.

“These are just initial allocations, and the Ministry of Finance is ready to adjust as we deal with the flood situations,” pledged Ahmad.

Najib had also included RM100 million for Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (Tekun) and RM100 million for Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) for SMEs and micro entrepreneurs whose businesses had been affected by floods while extending the loan payable period for Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), Agrobank, SME Bank, Tekun and AIM to six months.