Disaster networks activated to address floods

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM200mil has been allocated by the government to address the impact of floods and to activate all disaster networks of government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and government-linked companies (GLCs).

Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the Finance Ministry would expedite the distribution of RM50mil to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and National Disaster Relief Trust Fund to ensure the continuity of assistance to households affected by the floods.

He said the government would also increase the financial aid from RM500 to RM1,000 for each household affected by the northeast monsoon or other natural disasters declared by the Central Disaster Management Committee.

In a statement yesterday, he said the government would also provide an initial allocation of RM100mil in preparation for post-floods recovery, Bernama reported.

“The Federal Government will continue to cooperate with state governments in efforts to repair houses and public infrastructure damaged by the floods,” he added.

Besides that, Tengku Zafrul said for a start, RM50mil has been set aside by GLICs and GLCs, comprising matching grants amounting to RM25mil from the government and RM25mil from the GLICs and GLCs.

He added that companies that were part of the GLC/GLIC Disaster Recovery Network had gone to the ground to distribute aid, including the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) that provided the EPF educational centre, which has 152 rooms, as a temporary evacuation centre (PPS) for flood victims.

“Telekom Malaysia, meanwhile, has activated the crisis command centre nationwide and its Pakar Semboyan team is ready to provide communications assistance and emergency services involving Internet and telephone lines across the nation.

“Pharmaniaga and MASKargo are aggressively sending aid to the PPS while Yayasan Sime Darby is extending assistance to workers and communities living in plantations under Sime Darby Plantations,” he said.