KUALA LUMPUR: Cost to repair basic infrastructure due to the recent flooding incident is estimated to be RM1bil, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the government would expedite relief assistance to repair schools, hospitals and road networks.
He added that the government would also consider compensation for flood victims whose houses were destroyed in the disaster.
“While I agree that there should be compensation payment for flood victims to rebuild their homes, we need to wait for the overall details as the flood has started receding in Kelantan and Terengganu.
“I can’t provide any specific commitments regarding this matter yet,” said Anwar during the Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Dec 3).
He was responding to a supplementary question by Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) who had asked the Prime Minister whether the government would consider providing compensation for those whose houses were damaged in the recent flood disaster.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said that the government’s priority at the moment was to provide instant relief, which also included food and repairing roads in flood-stricken areas.
Mumtaz had also earlier asked Anwar to state whether the National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Policy will be accelerated to enable all mega flood mitigation facilities to be expedited.
On this matter, Anwar said that several flood mitigation projects in Kelantan and Terengganu are expected to be fully implemented by early next year.
Meanwhile, he added that the flood mitigation projects in Pahang are still in the early stages.
“However, the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Programme has been using the latest technology such as using hydrology data, telemetry, rain forecasting and weather numerical modelling as well as using satellite and radar,” he added.
Anwar also said the government will be prepared for the upcoming monsoon surge which had been forecasted to take place after Dec 8.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) on Monday (Dec 2) announced that the monsoon surge is expected to occur from Dec 8 to 14 in the eastern part of the peninsula.
