KOTA KINABALU: The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) have agreed to distribute the Bantuan Wang Ihsan (Compassionate Aid) for flood victims through Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) starting this year, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Deputy Prime Minister said this would be a departure from the conventional method of distributing aid through District Offices and the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK).

"Therefore, starting this year, Nadma and MOF have changed the distribution method to no longer follow the conventional system. We have held discussions to ensure that the list of relocated flood victims receives the Bantuan Wang Ihsan through BSN.

"This means they can go to BSN to claim the Bantuan Wang Ihsan," he told reporters after visiting the Kota Kinabalu Lido Flood Mitigation Project here Monday (Feb 24).

Also present was Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, who is also the Penampang Member of Parliament.

Ahmad Zahid mentioned that the governments of Sabah and Sarawak had requested to direct Bantuan Wang Ihsan to flood victims who did not move to PPS. To do this, it would be necessary to verify their status as flood victims.

"In this matter, we have undertaken governance measures to confirm that floods indeed affect them. We will obtain verification from the District Disaster Committee before implementing this policy adjustment," he said.

Meanwhile, he said the recent Northeast Monsoon (MTL), which ended with floods in Sabah and Sarawak, resulted in approximately 223,000 cumulative flood victims being evacuated.

"We have provided sufficient PPS facilities capable of accommodating around 2.1 million flood victims," he said, expressing gratitude to all parties, especially those who worked tirelessly to assist people affected by the disaster. – Bernama

BINTULU (Feb 25): Offshore contractor Allseas Marine Contractors Sdn Bhd on Sunday stepped forward to assist SK Kampung Jepak students affected by the recent devastating floods with a contribution of school supplies.

Allseas general manager Allard Heerema said many of the company’s employees were similarly affected by the Jan 29 disaster, which had also flooded neighbourhoods so close to the company’s onshore gas plant construction site.

“We can only imagine the impact on your homes and possessions, and we were relieved to hear that several groups within the community here had contributed immediate support in rebuilding the areas,” he said.

He added that Allseas felt it was necessary to make a modest contribution to support the students.

“It is very important that life can get back to normal again, that the people can look forward again especially for the school-going children.”

Meanwhile, Allseas Malaysia senior project manager Ragesh Kumar Lingam said the company hoped the assistance would alleviate the burden experienced by parents in preparing basic school supplies for their children.

He also thanked the Bintulu district office for its cooperation in ensuring the success of the programme.

Bintulu district education officer Awangku Ali Udin Awang Adenani in his speech at the handover ceremony expressed gratitude to Allseas for the contribution.

“This effort plays a crucial role in strengthening relationships between agencies, schools, local residents, and the involved companies, while fostering a culture of volunteerism and social responsibility among the community and students,” he said.

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, 25 Feb: Angka korban akibat hujan lebat yang melanda Madagascar sejak 14 Feb meningkat kepada 22 orang, lapor Xinhua yang memetik laporan terkini Pejabat Pengurusan Risiko dan Bencana Kebangsaan (BNGRC) pada Isnin.

Kematian direkodkan di enam wilayah, dengan kebanyakannya berpunca daripada kejadian lemas dan runtuhan. Selain itu, tiga individu dilaporkan cedera.

Kira-kira 20,000 orang terjejas akibat bencana itu, terutamanya di wilayah Analamanga, Menabe dan Vatovavy.

Lebih 13,000 penduduk terpaksa dipindahkan dan kini ditempatkan di 32 pusat penempatan sementara.

BNGRC turut melaporkan bahawa 3,671 rumah dinaiki air, 15 daripadanya musnah.

Hujan lebat dijangka berterusan dalam beberapa hari akan datang, khususnya di wilayah barat dan selatan Madagascar.

KUALA KRAI: Hujan lebat sejak dua hari lalu menyebabkan beberapa kawasan sekitar Tanah Merah dan Kuala Krai mula dinaiki air.

Bagaimanapun setakat ini masih belum ada pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) yang dibuka.

Penduduk Kampung Temalir, Ridzuan Mohd Noor, 34, berkata hujan lebat yang berterusan menyebabkan mereka sekeluarga berjaga-jaga disebabkan peningkatan paras air sungai yang berdekatan dengan kediamannya.

"Sekiranya hujan masih lagi belum berhenti, besar kemungkinan kami akan terputus hubungan disebabkan jambatan dan jalan kampung yang digunakan sebagai laluan utama ditenggelami banjir.

"Semoga hujan akan segera reda supaya paras sungai tidak bertambah," katanya ketika dihubungi.

Sementara itu, Pemangku Ketua Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat (BBP) Sungai Durian, Pegawai Bomba Kanan II (PBKII) Juniman Junoh berkata, pemantauan yang dilakukan setakat pada pagi tadi mendapati beberapa kawasan rendah sudah dinaiki air iaitu di Kampung Keroh, laluan masuk ke Ladang Pasir Gajah dan Jalan Bukit Sireh ke Kampung Bedal yang kini ditutup oleh semua kenderaan.

"Setakat ini keadaan terkawal, dan tiada sebarang proses pemindahan penduduk ke pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) dijalankan.

"Walau bagaimanapun, semua pihak perlu dalam keadaan bersedia selain saya juga memohon penduduk yang berada di kawasan rendah supaya bersiap sedia sekiranya diarahkan berpindah oleh pihak berkuasa agar tiada berlaku sebarang insiden yang tidak diingini," katanya.