PM announces RM75 mln allocation for disaster area in Kedah

Prime Minister visiting the site of the recent disaster in Kedah. The overflow of rain water and mud from Kedah’s highest peak – Gunung Jerai – left a huge impact, uprooting trees and houses along its way and destroying villages at its foothills and nearby areas. Photo courtesy of Ismail Sabri Yaakob Facebook.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 – New Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced an allocation of RM75 million for the disaster hit area in Kedah.

Ismail Sabri who visited the area earlier today, said the allocation would cover the repairs and upgrading of rivers and drainage systems covering a length of 27 km under phase one costing RM5 million, the building of two new bridges amounting to RM23 million, the building of the Sabo Dam Phase 1 costing RM20 million and the upgrading and enhancement works for the Gurun and Tupah water treatment plant at RM2 million.

He said families affected by the recent floods that hit the Gunung Jerai and its surroundings areas will also be given RM500 each family while in the event of deaths, a special assistance allocation of RM5,000 will be given through the national disaster welfare fund.

Allocation will be also made for houses destroyed under the housing programme for the poor (PPRT), he said in a statement on his Facebook page today.

He said a sum of RM12.7 million has been set aside for the repairs of the local state authority’s facilities and also for the recovery of the local tourism sector.

Another RM3 million will go for repair works involving affected padi fields, roads, drains and water storage facilities.

Ismail Sabri said he has already directed the Ministry of Environment and Water to carry out the recovery works in September.

–WE