IPOH: The government has allocated RM24 million to expedite the repair of infrastructure damaged by the floods in Sabah and Sarawak.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the allocation was approved due to the government's concern for the welfare and well-being of the people in these states affected by the floods.
"We have prepared RM24 million (in allocation) to accelerate works to repair major damages (caused by the floods that wreak havoc in Sabah and Sarawak)
"We have approved the allocations. And this initiative is not based on state or season...
"It is driven by a sense of responsibility which is why we approved it (the allocation)," Anwar said when speaking during Kenduri Rakyat event held in the compound of Al-Muttaqin Mosque in Taman Meru here today.
Anwar yesterday said he had instructed the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to strengthen coordination across all federal and state agency resources to help flood victims in Sabah and Sarawak.
He had also said that the Ihsan Madani Squad would be deployed to assist flood victims at temporary relief centres and that they would remain on standby for post-flood recovery operations.
According to the Welfare Department's Info Banjir portal, the number of flood victims in Sabah and Sarawak saw a slight decline in the afternoon compared to this morning.
Both states reported that a total of 4,276 people from 1,449 families were evacuated as of 4pm, compared to 5,617 earlier today.
The flood evacuees are seeking shelter at 75 relief centres activated in both states.