Generous gesture: Tunku Ismail (in white) with (from left) Onn Hafiz, Azmi and Avinderjit during the symbolic handing over ceremony at Istana Polo, Pasir Pelangi.
JOHOR BARU: The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, donated 103,000 cubicle tents worth RM19mil to assist flood victims throughout the country.
The tents, which will benefit all states in the country, were donated through the Sultan Ibrahim Johor Foundation (YSIJ).
Sultan Ibrahim said each state would receive 5,000 units of cubicle tents to serve as immediate assistance for flood victims.
The Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who represented the Sultan, handed the cubicle tents to representatives of states during a symbolic handing over ceremony at Istana Polo, Pasir Pelangi, here yesterday, according to a statement on the official Facebook from the Royal Press Office (RPO).
Also present during the ceremony were Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Johor State Secretary Tan Sri Azmi Rohani, YSIJ trustee Datuk Avinderjit Singh and National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) deputy director-general (post-disaster management division) Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus.
Meanwhile, Avinderjit said Sultan Ibrahim, who is always concerned with the welfare of the people, especially the fate of flood victims, had consented to donate the cubicle tents, reported Bernama.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had earlier directed all district disaster management committees to be activated to coordinate immediate response services in all disaster-prone areas because of potential floods during the northeast monsoon season.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rain in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang from November to December, while Johor, Sabah and Sarawak are expected to face the monsoon from December 2022 to January 2023.
In terms of managing flood victims, Ismail Sabri said the Social Welfare Department had been directed to activate 6,010 temporary relief centres (PPS) to house 1,620,855 victims throughout the country.
He added that the government had allocated RM2.59mil to upgrade facilities at all PPS, especially in terms of the number of toilets and bathing facilities.
