KUALA LUMPUR — The private sector should contribute more to ease the burden of flood victims, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.
He urged them to donate funds or send relief machinery to affected areas, adding that government-linked companies (GLICs) under Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Petronas, and Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) have mobilised all companies under their umbrella, while local banks have taken proactive steps in supporting recovery efforts.
“It is good in the current situation not only to have funds, but also to have machinery ready.
“Let every private company from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Penang also come down to the field,” Anwar said, reported by Bernama, at the monthly gathering for staff of the Prime Minister’s Department here today.
Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as well as Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
Anwar also announced additional funds for post-flood follow-up measures, which are expected to begin in the middle of this month.
The prediction is based on reports by the National Disaster Management Committee that floodwaters in some areas have started to recede.
“This (follow-up action) is something that we should be prepared for. If the water is receding, there is a responsibility to restore the situation, that’s why we also provide additional allocations to repair schools, relief centres (PPS), toilet cleaning facilities and so on,” he said.
Anwar yesterday announced an additional RM50 million in flood assistance for Kelantan and Terengganu.
Floods have hit several states since last week with Kelantan the worst hit, recording 85,778 flood victims involving 26,781 families placed in 251 temporary relief centres (PPS) today.
Other states affected are Terengganu, Perak, Johor, Kedah, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis and Melaka.
The total number of flood victims recorded in the nine states as of this morning is 138,052.
Anwar has frozen leave of all ministers, ordering them to go to the ground and assist in flood relief operations. – December 2, 2024