No cash aid for flood victims from state, says CM Chow

BUTTERWORTH: The state government does not have a policy to provide cash aid to flood victims.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said there is no such policy in Penang (to provide cash aid).

“We have no such policy.

“It is even difficult to define flood victims,” he said when speaking to the press after launching Package 12A of the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Tasek Gelugor here on Friday (Sept 20).

Chow was responding to questions about financial assistance to be provided to the recent flood victims.

Chow said based on the reports he received on Thursday (Sept 19) there were still several temporary flood relief centres housing flood victims.

“Looking at the change in weather pattern, we expect the weather to further improve.

“We expect that flood victims to be able to return home in a day or two.

“As what we have practised, we house the flood victims in temporary flood relief centres and provide them with the necessary assistance while there,” he said.

As of Friday morning, there are still 578 flood victims housed in temporary flood relief centres in all three districts on the mainland.

It was reported that Chow said on Thursday (Sept 19) that the state government had for the past 10 years spent nearly RM400mil for flood mitigation projects in the state.

On Tuesday (Sept 17), seven temporary flood relief centres were opened in three districts in the state to house some 220 victims.

A storm-lashed Penang earlier this week left behind scenes of destruction amid hundreds of fallen trees in over 130 locations.

The torrential weather has also led to flash floods in various locations.