RM97.4m for Sabah flood victims expected
Published on: Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Government is prepared to channel RM97.44 million to repair public infrastructure damage caused by floods in several districts in Sabah early this year.Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said he personally applied for the funds from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak to repair damaged infrastructures in Beaufort, Tenom, Keningau, Nabawan and Kota Belud."Based on assessments of overall flood-damaged public infrastructures by relevant agencies in Sabah, I found that a huge amount of RM97.44 million is needed.ADVERTISEMENT "Hence, I personally applied for such funds from the Prime Minister and he is willing to consider it," Musa who is also State Finance Minister, told Klias Assemblyman Datuk Lajim Ukin during question time at the State Legislative Assembly, Monday.This was based on initial assessment by the Public Works Department, State Railway Department and district officers on road damages caused by flood. Farmers and livestock breeders endured loss of crops and rearing animals of about RM16.23 million.Lajim asked whether the flood victims in several districts have received the RM500 aid and electrical appliances as well as furniture which flood victims in the peninsula received.ADVERTISEMENT Musa said payment of RM500 aid to each family had been carried out and currently being handled by the Federal Government through the National Security Council (NSC)."So far, the contribution of RM500 had been distributed to flood victims in Kota Belud, Nabawan, and Keningau while those in Beaufort and Tenom will get the cash aid soon.
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"In fact, the Federal Government has allocated RM902,000 for distribution of the RM500 aid in Sabah," he said, adding that Sabah was hit twice by flooding between Dec. 2013 up to Feb. 18 this year, and that this had affected 11,032 people in interior districts - Kota Belud, Beaufort, Tenom, Keningau and Nabawan.On the distribution of house appliances, Musa said these were given to the victims at the discretion of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and not decided by the government.He added that State Government through Welfare Department had operated all relief centres in affected districts by providing basic facilities like clean water, mats, and basic medical needs, among others.In this respect, he said about RM2.4 million had been spent to manage the centres in those districts.To a supplementary question by Lajim, Musa said he welcomed the elected representatives from opposition parties to join the State Government in going down to the ground visiting flood victims in future.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"I have no problem if Lajim wishes to join us visiting flood areas and the victims in future. Who knows ... maybe one day he (Lajim) will rejoin Barisan Nasional," Musa said in jest.