Swift assistance to flood victims due to Sabah-Federal govts close rapport - Ongkili

KOTA MARUDU, Jan 21  -- The swift disbursement of financial assistance and other aid for flood victims in Sabah is the result of the close rapport between the state and the federal governments, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

As such, he said it was vital for any state government to maintain a good relationship with the federal government to ensure the people’s plights were heard.

“In flood and disaster management, the Federal Government has the supreme power, in terms of services and financial aid disbursement through the relevant agencies.

“Over here, the RM1,000 cash aid for each household is disbursed just within three weeks,” he said in a statement after attending the aid presentation programme at the Kota Marudu Community Hall here today.

A total of 1,161 households were affected by the recent flood in Kota Marudu, of which 332 had been presented with financial assistance before, while the remainder received theirs today.

Ongkili added that about RM1.4 billion has been allocated by the government to alleviate the flood victims’ burdens due to the recent floods in six states, including Sabah, of which a household could receive between RM10,000 to RM61,000, depending on the severity of their losses incurred.

On another development, Ongkili, who is Kota Marudu Member of Parliament, said that the District Office here has estimated some RM46 million in total damages caused by the recent flood, of which the government has approved to allocate RM24 million for repair works.

“The remainder is still pending and will be approved upon re-verification by the relevant agencies,” he said.

-- BERNAMA