BEAUFORT (March 11): Families affected by flood here and in Membakut received emergency cash assistance totalling RM1,300 from the Federal and State governments.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said of the amount RM1,000 comes from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and RM300 from Yayasan Kebajikan Sabah (YKS).

Apart from the cash aids, each family evacuated to the temporary evacuation centres (PPS) would also receive food assistance.

The Chief Minister said this after visiting PPS Dewan Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Dun Banir, which currently houses 147 families comprising 412 victims here, on Tuesday.

Seven PPS have been opened since flood started on March 7 providing shelter to a total of 1,944 people from 614 families here.

At the PPS, the Chief Minister presented the assistance and spoke with the flood victims.

“I came here to meet with the victims and personally see the situation on the ground. I assured them that the government understood their predicament,” he said.

The Chief Minister also visited the town area, still submerged in water where he was briefed by District Officer Mohd Nazri Ajun.

Hajiji directed the Drainage and Irrigation Department to clear all waterways, particularly drains in order to mitigate flooding during this wet season.

He also visited the PPS Dewan Kesenian Islam, Membakut, one of four PPS activated in the district to present similar assistance to flood victims there.

The Membakut PPS currently houses some 278 families comprising 836 victims.

Accompanying the Chief Minister were State Secretary Datuk Seri Panglima Safar Untong, elected representatives and Prime Minister’s Senior Political Secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.