Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
ISKANDAR PUTERI: Account holders affected by the recent floods in Johor can enjoy up to a 40% discount on their water bill for March and April, says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
He said the decision was made following discussions between the state government and water supply company Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd.
He said the discount was the state’s way of helping to ease the victims’ burden.
“The government’s cash assistance involving a total value of RM34.2mil will also be disbursed to the affected head of households latest by the end of March.
“The financial assistance - RM1,000 Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) from the Federal Government and RM300 from the state government - will be paid out soon, with the exception of Segamat and Batu Pahat.”
He said this was because Segamat and Batu Pahat have far more flood victims compared with other districts, and would take a longer time to completely disburse the aid to all the victims.
“Besides that, the Basic Necessities Assistance (BBKA), worth RM2,500 will start being distributed to each head of household starting early April, involving a total amount of RM60.3mil,” he told the state assembly at Kota Iskandar on Monday (March 27).
Onn Hafiz added that many victims could not save their important documents in time when floodwaters rose rapidly so the state government also agreed to waive the RM250 replacement fee for property grants lost or destroyed in the natural disaster.
All 10 districts in Johor were flooded following heavy rain on Feb 28, with Segamat, Batu Pahat, Muar, Kota Tinggi and Tangkak being the most affected districts.
More than 50,000 evacuees were recorded at the height of the disaster with close to 270 relief centres statewide opened to provide them shelter.
Many others sought shelter at the homes of relatives and friends.
