KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that the government has allocated additional funds for post-flood follow-up measures, which are expected to begin in the middle of this month.
He said that based on a report by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is the National Disaster Management Committee chairman, the flood water in some areas has started to recede.
"This (follow-up action) is something that we should be prepared for. If the water is receding, there is a responsibility to restore the situation, that's why we also provide additional allocations to repair schools, relief centres (PPS), toilet cleaning facilities and so on," he said.
He said this at a monthly assembly with staff of the Prime Minister's Department here today. Also present were the deputy prime ministers, Zahid and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, as well as Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
Yesterday, Anwar announced an additional immediate allocation for Kelantan and Terengganu, with RM25 million for each state, in the wake of the severe floods that hit them, for repair of essential infrastructure such as roads and drainage systems, as well as raising road levels in Hulu Besut in Terengganu.
Anwar said the post-flood follow-up actions must also cover all affected areas throughout the country.
"Zahid reported earlier that there are some areas where the flood water has receded a little, but now flowing to Pahang and Johor, so it means that the preparedness is for the whole country.”
According to the prime minister, a total of 82,000 personnel from various agencies were deployed to flood locations across the country, in addition to the involvement of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), corporate bodies and individual volunteers who also came to help.
"I saw lorries bringing food from Penang. I happened to meet an individual from Bukit Mertajam. He is not from an NGO but manages 10 food trucks to be sent to Kelantan and informs ATM (Malaysian Armed Forces) to help coordinate.
"This is the strength of the Malaysian people. The individual from Penang is a Chinese. He thinks this is a mutual problem. Things like this should be highlighted to show the spirit of saving lives and helping our fellow man," he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar called on the private sector to join in providing assistance to alleviate the burden on flood victims, whether through funding or deploying aid machinery to affected areas.
He noted that government-linked investment companies (GLICs) under Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Petronas, and Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) have mobilised their subsidiaries, while local banks have taken proactive measures to support recovery efforts.
"In the current situation, it is good not only to contribute funds but also to deploy machinery. Let private companies from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Penang also get involved on the ground.”
Floods have plagued the country since last week, with Kelantan being the worst-hit state, reporting 85,778 flood victims from 26,781 families currently housed in 251 temporary relief centres (PPS).
Others affected include Terengganu, Perak, Johor, Kedah, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, and Melaka, with a total of 138,052 flood victims recorded across nine states.
— Bernama
