BUTTERWORTH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has extended special aid of RM500 each to 202 households affected by the floods in Penang last week.
The contribution was presented by his senior political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin at Dewan Besar Sungai Dua here on Tuesday (Sept 24).
Shamsul Iskandar said the 202 families registered with temporary relief centres, particularly from south, north and central Seberang Prai, will also receive RM1,000 each from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma).
"Therefore, each affected family will receive RM1,500, which shows that the Prime Minister and the government are deeply concerned for and sympathetic towards those affected by the disaster. Together, we will recover and rise again.
"Hopefully, this contribution will help ease their burden in repairing the damage caused by the floods," he told reporters after distributing the aid at the event, which was also attended by state social development, welfare and non-Islamic affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim.
A total of 11 relief centres were opened from Sept 17 until Saturday (Sept 21), accommodating 760 people from 202 families.
All of them returned home on Saturday.
One of the affected residents, 57-year-old Mohd Azhari Yaacob from Kampung Lahar Yooi, expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by the Prime Minister and Nadma.
"My area floods frequently, and I have suffered losses of around RM15,000. Moreover, the PM is very familiar with our area, but I did not expect to receive direct assistance from him," he said.
For Hamid Hashim, 69, the aid will help reduce the burden and challenges following last week’s floods, which caused significant damage to his home.
"The water rose to knee level, and much of the furniture has been damaged, so I will use the money to buy new furniture. I thank the Prime Minister and the government," he said.
Mary Nathan, 65, from Kampung Stesen, Nibong Tebal also expressed her happiness at receiving the RM1,500 aid, especially with Deepavali next month, as several pieces of furniture in her home were destroyed.
Mary, who is also a person with disabilities, said she currently sleeps on a chair as her bed was washed away by floodwaters. She plans to buy a new bed and wardrobe with the aid. – Bernama
