PUTRAJAYA – The government have channelled aid via the Bantuan Banjir Keluarga Malaysia scheme to 97 per cent of 75,000 households, worth RM1.46 billion since the start of the year, said Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Aziz.
Speaking to Sinar Daily in an exclusive interview, Tengku Zafrul said this data refutes the claims that the government have been apathetic in providing aid to flood victims as the norms of disaster cash incentives will take up to three to six months previously.
"For the first time ever, in a period of one month after the massive floods, the government have channel RM1.46 billion in aid to flood victims that are placed in PPS (temporary evacuation centres).
"Previously victims eligible to received government aid will receive said funds between three to six months but after proactive actions taken by the government, as of Jan 19, 97 per cent of the head of household involving 75,000 households have received the flood aid.
"For households who have yet to receive any aid, their application must be referred to Nadma or their respective PDT (district and land office) as perhaps the delay could be attributed to incomplete documentation,’’ he said, referring to the National Disaster Management Agency.
Under the aid package, the Finance Ministry has disbursed aid in the form of Bantuan Wang Ihsan of RM1,000, cash aid of RM10,000 to next of kin who lost loved ones during the flood, cash aid to purchase daily necessities of RM1,000, a subsidy of RM1,000 to repair cars damaged by the floods, RM500 rebate to purchase electrical goods and household repairs between RM5,000 up to RM56,000.
On Thursday, Tengku Zafrul also revealed in Parliament that the cost to repair the damages caused by the recent floods could reach RM2 billion.
He also stated that some RM300 million has also been disbursed in preparation for the East Coast Monsoon floods.