PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today that the delay in distributing flood aid, especially involving the purchase of electrical goods amounting to RM500 and aid of RM2,500 to replace damaged items, was due to the eligibility verification process.
Following delays, particularly involving victims who were not evacuated, Ismail Sabri said he had instructed all parties to expedite the process.
He said the delays were due to the need to obtain verification from ‘Tok Ampat’ (village chief) or other officials.
“If possible, I want to give this assistance to all, but this involves Government funds that has to go through audits and so on.
“That is why the details are needed,” he said, when visiting flood victims at the Kampung Guai Mosque here today.
At the event, Ismail Sabri presented assistance in the form of household necessities, donated by the Bera parliamentary office and the rural development ministry, to 80 representatives of flood victims from Kampung Guai, Kampung Charuk Puting and Kampung Batu Bor, all in the Bera district.
He also said the Government was committed to helping flood victims as soon as possible to ease their financial burden. This included the provision of compassionate cash aid (BWI) of RM1,000 from the Government to be disbursed immediately.
Ismail Sabri, who is also Bera MP, thanked the authorities and residents of the district who acted quickly when the floods struck, allowing smooth coordination of aid without any untoward incidents.
“We have always been hit by floods, so we were ready. Temporary evacuation centres (PPS) had been identified at the very beginning and disaster management was ready for the floods from November.
“Village heads were also trained and those living by the river were ready with boats.
“But I would like to apologise as I could not be here during the recent floods. Every year, whenever it floods, I come here by boat, but the big floods this time occurred in several states and I had to be at those locations, too,” he said. — Jan 23, 2022
