Floods: Govt has spent RM615,000 on rations for victims so far, says Nancy Shukri

BUTTERWORTH: The government has spent RM615,000 on rations for those affected by the floods so far, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said they had spent the money on providing food stocks but it was still not enough as they needed to continue buying rations.

"The food is still in the process of being distributed and we hope it will be enough for now but we do need to provide more rations.

"It is still not enough as of right now. Johor itself has more than 42,000 people that have been affected.

"This could be considered a national crisis," she said at a press conference held during her working visit to the Tasek Gelugor Laman Wanita centre in Butterworth.

Nancy said Yayasan Kebajikan Negara has helped and corporate entities have come forward to provide monetary aid but there is need for more aid.

"I urge the people to come forward if they can to help through Yayasan Kebajikan Negara.

"We need the aid as their expenses have exceeded the funding given by the government.

"We sympathise with those in Johor and we will provide food, counselling and other means to help them," she said.

Nancy said while the floods are not bad in Sabah and Sarawak right now, she hopes that it does not worsen towards the later part of the month as the winds change.

"We hope that it does not become worse like how it is here, especially in Johor," she said.

On the manpower deployed to help, Nancy said while she did not have the numbers, it is constantly increasing.

"We are increasing our manpower and deploying more people over from other states.

"Negri Sembilan and Pahang are sending over people today (March 5).

"They will work in rotation as they too need breaks," she said, adding that there were volunteers who were there helping as well.

It was reported that as of Sunday morning (March 5), the flood situation in several states is worsening with the number of victims placed in temporary evacuation centers (PPS) across the country increasing to 48,989 people.

Johor continued to record the highest number of victims at 44,860 followed by Pahang (2,978), Negri Sembilan (587), Melaka (493) and Selangor (71).