Johor thanks federal govt for approving flood allocation

JOHOR BAHRU - The Johor state government today expressed its appreciation of the federal government's concern in approving immediate allocations to increase supplies at the temporary evacuation centre (PPS) for flood victims in the state.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the federal government has approved an immediate allocation of RM10 million to ensure that all items, especially in PPS, are adequate due to the increasing number of affected residents.

"Thank you also for considering the immediate allocation of RM7.6 million for works to upgrade the drainage system in Taman Kota Emas and in Kota Tinggi itself as a short-term measure to overcome the flood problem in the area.

"The Deputy Prime Minister also agreed to consider the state government's proposal for long-term measures such as deepening and widening Sungai Lalang and the proposal to upgrade the Kota Tinggi-Mersing road," he said in a post on Facebook today.

Yesterday, Onn Hafiz accompanied Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for a briefing by Kota Tinggi district officer Datin Paduka Hajah Hazlina Jalil on the current flood situation in the district.

"We also had the opportunity to inspect the condition of the flood victims who are taking shelter at the PPS in Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Datuk Usman Awang and SJK (C) New Kota apart from delivering aid to ease their burden.

On the fifth day of the floods in Johor, the situation is becoming more critical with the number of flood victims continuing to rise to 33,149 people who were evacuated to 217 PPS as of 8 this morning. - BERNAMA