M'SIAN DPM HANDS OVER RM10.51 MILLION AID TO FLOOD VICTIMS

NIAH (Malaysia), Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak
Friday handed over federal aid amounting to about RM10.51 million for
victims in the recent floods in the Miri division in East Malaysia state of
Sarawak.

The amount included RM8.25 million for 27,500 families who were not
evacuated during the floods, with each family receiving RM300, and RM2.18
million, of RM500 each family, to 4,375 families who were forced to evacuate.

Sixteen house owners whose dwellings were damaged in the floods would
receive RM3,000 each.

Four families who lost their loved ones in the flood would also receive
RM3,000 each.

Najib, in his speech at the function held at a secondary school here, said
the federal government would study a proposal by the Sarawak government to give
aid of RM1,000 each to farming households whose crops were damaged in the
floods.

He said the government was also looking into the need to repair public
utilities and infrastructure which were damaged in the recent floods, adding
that the rehabilitation project under the Drainage and Irrigation Department
cost RM133 million, while urgent projects under the Federal Development
Department were estimated at RM115 million.

Meanwhile, Sarawak deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan, in his
speech, said about 10,000 farming families suffered losses of about RM30 million
in the floods.

He said the floods in the division caused more than 2,000 people in the Niah
district to be evacuated. (US$1=RM3.60)
-- BERNAMA