Floods: Johor grateful to Putrajaya for releasing RM10mil to help victims

JOHOR BARU: Johor has thanked Putrajaya for disbursing RM10mil to the state to buy essential items for flood victims.

Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said he was grateful and thanked Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the national disaster management committee chairman, for immediately approving the funds.

“This will ensure all temporary relief centres have an adequate supply of essential items as the number of victims displaced due to the floods is increasing,” he said in a Facebook post on Friday (March 3).

Onn Hafiz also thanked the Federal Government for considering the immediate allocation of RM7.6mil for works to upgrade the drainage system in Taman Kota Emas in Kota Tinggi and at the town area itself as a short-term measure to overcome flooding.

“Ahmad Zahid also agreed to consider the state government's proposal for long-term measures such as deepening and widening Sungai Lalang, as well as the proposal to upgrade the Kota Tinggi-Mersing road,” he added.

On Thursday (March 2), Ahmad Zahid said the government had disbursed RM10mil for the purchase of essential items needed by flood victims in Johor.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the funds had been channelled to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), which is managing the allocations.

“I was informed that there is a shortage of essential items such as blankets, mattresses and pillows for the victims in certain areas, including Kota Tinggi.

“Nadma has informed all district officers, who are also chairmen of the respective district disaster management committees, to go ahead and buy the essential items.

“We want Nadma to act fast to address the shortage of essential items.

“The floods are among the worst Johor has seen in recent years,” he said after visiting flood victims at the temporary relief centre at SJKC New Kota in Kota Tinggi.