SKM Channels Over RM200,000 Aid To Flood-hit Cooperatives

CHUKAI, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Cooperative Societies Commission (SKM) has disbursed RM232,500 in aid to 38 cooperatives affected by floods nationwide so far.

Its chairman, Lt Gen (Rtd) Datuk Ahmad Norihan Jalal said the assistance was channelled through Tabung Bantuan Kecemasan Koperasi (TBKK) and Cooperative Emergency Relief Fund (CERF).

He said that, so far, SKM has received 53 applications for CERF assistance and 28 applications for TBKK aid from cooperatives.

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"Cooperatives can apply for assistance to cover damages to premises, assets, projects or affected business activities.

"Applications from states including Terengganu, Johor, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang and Perak have been approved and will be disbursed in stages, with the total value exceeding RM700,000," he said at the handover ceremony of two rescue boats and the SKM board members Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme at the Wilayah Terengganu Selatan SKM Office here today.

Also present were SKM chief executive officer Datuk Rusli Jaafar and SKM Terengganu deputy director Mohd Solehin Ramli @ Yusof.

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The two rescue boats, complete with life jackets, will be stationed in Kemaman to aid flood rescue operations in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

Ahmad Norihan said SKM has also allocated RM580,000 to assist flood victims in several states through the Ihsan MADANI Squad initiative.

"We also distributed food supplies, like rice and cooking oil, to several states, including Terengganu, on Dec 14. This is part of SKM’s CSR effort to ease the burden of the flood victims," he said.

He added that as of June 30, a total of 16,009 cooperatives have been registered with SKM, involving 7.2 million members.

-- BERNAMA