Johor government has assured flood-affected farmers that assistance will be channelled to them within 30 days after getting approval from the relevant authorities.
State agriculture, agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said 4,862 operators in the sector had been affected, with losses amounting to RM35.5mil in this year’s floods involving several districts.
“This includes sub-sectors such as vegetable and fruit farmers, livestock and fish farmers as well as agro-based product producers.
“We expect the amount to go up once floodwaters recede completely, as certain areas in Johor are still flooded.
“I have discussed the matter with the departments under my purview to channel flood assistance to those affected within a month after getting approval.
“Those affected are encouraged to file a claim complete with details such as police report and related videos and photos with the relevant agencies such as the Agricultural Department and Veterinary Services Department,” he told reporters when met at the state assembly in Kota Iskandar.
He added that the flood assistance given would not be monetary but in the form of equipment.
Zahari said he would also look into issues like wrong channelling of assistance, following complaints.
“I was told that there were farmers who applied for piping equipment but received a grass-cutting machine instead.
“I have addressed the matter with the department but I will see what went wrong, to prevent this from occurring again,” he said.
Separately, Johor youth, sports, entrepreneur development, cooperatives and human resources committee chairman Mohd Hairi (pic) Mad Shah told the state assembly that 34 new para-athletes were discovered last year.
He said their talents were spotted through the i-Train and i-Talent programmes conducted by the Youth and Sports Department.
“The department works closely with sports associations to find para-athletes who can compete at national and international levels.
“The 34 new talents were also chosen to participate at the Para Sukma (Malaysia Games) 2022 in Kuala Lumpur last year where they obtained good results in athletics, chess, powerlifting and table-tennis,” said the Larkin assemblyman during the question-and-answer session.
He was answering to a question from Fauziah Misri (BN–Penawar) about the state’s talent identification efforts and programmes to increase the involvement of the disabled community in sports.
