THE federal government will use funds from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to aid Penang flood victims, said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.

The deputy prime minister said the funds would be used to provide financial assistance to those affected, and provide essentials, like food, temporary shelters, medicine and equipment, in the ongoing relief operations.

Zahid, who is also chairman of Nadma, which was set up in 2015 to coordinate all government agencies tackling disasters, said the funds should be disbursed within six hours of him giving the order.

He said victims who had yet to receive assistance could contact Nadma, the Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Force and police.

Zahid, who is in Kuching for a one-day working visit, told reporters after a closed-door meeting with senior police officers at the state contingent police headquarters in Jalan Badruddin that flood relief should not be politicised.

He said DAP-ruled Penang should not claim that flood relief was the responsibility of the federal government, and not the state.

“We (federal government) are committed to helping all victims. We don’t look at the colour of their skin. Victims don’t care about party politics.”

Earlier, at the Expresi Negaraku gathering in Petrajaya, Zahid said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had called him at 3.34am requesting federal assistance to deal with widespread flooding in the state.

He said after his conversation with Lim, he instructed National Security Council director-general Armed Forces chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin to order the mobilisation of the army, police, Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Defence Force, and that Zulkefli was to coordinate flood relief operations.

Zahid said by 8.30am, the military, police and several federal agencies had been mobilised, and Lim, at 12.41pm, confirmed it.

Penang, battered by nearly 24 hours of heavy rain, saw water levels rising to between 3m and 3.6m in some areas. – November 5, 2017.