KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM887.9mil was spent for flood victims in rescue operations and welfare aid between 2021 and last year, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs, and Special Functions) Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong.
The figure was a massive increase from the period between 2020 and 2021, where RM19.46mil was spent.
Ugak Kumbong also said between 2019 and 2020, RM8.6mil was spent for floods.
According to Ugak Kumbong, the drastic increase for the period between 2021 and 2022 was due to several aid packages announced by Putrajaya, which included Bantuan Wang Ihsan that was raised from RM500 to RM1,000 in September 2021.
“Besides that, the increase was also due to other aid, such as the BWI for deaths which is RM10,000, as well as funds to buy necessities and aid in building new homes, which is also for the B40 group.
“The BWI is not a form of compensation towards damages on properties and houses. This is to temporarily ease the burden of victims,” said Ugak Kumbong.
Ugak Kumbong was responding to a supplementary question raised by Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang), who asked about details on the increase of spending for flood victims across the country, which also includes spending for rescue efforts.
Earlier, Ugak Kumbong said the total amount of aid channelled to flood victims by the state disaster management committees stood at RM844.62mil last year alone.
The amount consists of several initiatives, such as the RM261.47mil for BWI payouts, RM487.17mil for basic necessities, RM84.21mil for house repairs and among others.
Ugak Kumbong said RM178.49mil was allocated to Pahang during that year, RM508mil for Selangor, RM50.65mil for Kelantan, Kedah (RM7.8mil), Terengganu (RM17.52mil), Melaka (RM21.3mil) and RM5.12mil for the Federal Territories.
RM26.45mil was allocated to Melaka, RM2.4mil for Perak, Johor (RM9.9mil), Sabah (RM7.4mil), Sarawak (RM8.9mil), none was spent for Penang and Perlis during the period, said Ugak Kumbong.
Meanwhile, Ugak Kumbong also said MPs and state assemblymen should work together at the state disaster management committee.
“This is to ensure that (government initiatives) were in line and it will foster cooperation in lending equal assistance to our victims,” added Ugak Kumbong
