PENAMPANG: Around 250 families and five schools affected by floods in Penampang have received RM100,000 cash from Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR).
In a press release, YBR said RM50,000 has been allocated for families, with each receiving RM200, and another RM50,000 was allocated for schools, with each receiving RM10,000.
The flood, described as the worst since 1999, occurred due to river overflow on June 30 after continuous rain in areas around Penampang, Putatan, and near Kota Kinabalu.
Many homes were affected and one life was lost.
The handover ceremony was officiated today by Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick at Dewan Huguan Siou Tuavon.
Ewon said the effort would give a slight reprieve to families affected by the disaster and alleviate their burdens in these tough times.
YBR chairperson Datuk Philip Benedict Lasimbang, who was also present, said the foundation will work on getting more aid for the district.
"We are concerned over of the financial burden especially among B40 families, due to the disaster", he said.
Also present were YBR general manager Syaiful Abdul Ghani, Penampang Municipal Council president Francis Chong, district education officer Ag Mohd Kadir Ag Kanak and YBR Corporate Communications Department manager Mohamad Ghazali Zainal.
Other agencies also involved in the initiative include SME Bank, Co-op Bank Pertama, Tekun Nasional, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad, Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad and the Malaysian Cooperative Commission.