Muhyiddin praises Sabah flood relief efforts – Bernama
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has praised the efficiency of the State Security Committee (JKN) and the Sabah National Security Council (MKN) in tackling the problems of floods in the state.
He was satisfied with the swift action taken by JKN, chaired by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, as well as the state MKN in handling the various departments and agencies to help the flood victims in Sabah over the past five days.
"I am satisfied that there was sufficient supply of food and drinks, health treatment services were good and clean water supply was adequate. There were no complaints from the victims," he told reporters after visiting flood victims in Membakut today.
Muhyiddin said the government would always be ready to face any flood disaster and would ensure that equal treatment was given to all victims affected in the state.
He said the flood compensation aid of RM500 for each household would also be extended to the victims in Sabah, and as soon as the registration process for the affected residents had been completed and the residents confirmed as victims by the respective district officers and MKN, the compensation money could be paid out.
"Residents are eligible (to receive the RM500 aid) regardless whether they were evacuated to the relief centres or had stayed at their relatives' homes or did not leave their homes for fear of leaving their property behind.
"The federal government will also pay RM5,000 for each fatality due to the floods. But alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), there was no report of any fatality due to the floods in Sabah," he said.
In addition, Muhyiddin said the federal government, through the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government as well as the Public Works Department, would evaluate the damage to houses that needed to be repaired, whether by appointing a contractor or through “gotong-royong”.
He said houses that were partly damaged would be repaired at a cost of between RM5,000 and RM10,000 each, while houses that were totally damaged would be rebuilt.
He said the government would also give aid to farmers whose crops were damaged or who had lost their livestock, while various credit agencies were prepared to assist small entrepreneurs affected by the floods by offering interest-free loans.
Earlier, Muhyiddin visited the flood evacuation centre at SM St Patrick, Membakut where he was also given a briefing on the flood situation by state secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman and Beaufort district officer Mohd Shahid Othman.
Also present were Musa, the Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Datuk Rahman Dahlan, and state MKN secretary Rodzi Md Saat.
Five districts in the state were affected by the floods since last Tuesday: Beaufort, Membakut, Tenom, Sipitang and Papar. – Bernama, January 24, 2015.
