PENANG has allocated RM100 million for a special post-disaster fund to deal with the aftermath of the flash floods that hit the state earlier this week. 

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced the special allocation under the “Pulau Pinang Bangkit” (Penang to bounce back) post-disaster programme. 

He said the disaster affected some 100,000 households in the state, when the storm brought record rainfall  and strong winds that caused flash floods, landslides and uprooted trees.

Seven people were also killed in the disaster.

He said since the disaster, 12,559 people from 3,052 families in all five districts in the state had to be evacuated from their flooded homes.

As of 8am today, 3,129 people from 828 families are still in 29 evacuation centres in northern and central Seberang Prai on mainland Penang. To date, 55 centres have been closed with more and more flood victims returning home.

RM500 per household

Lim said the biggest challenges faced now were to clean up, repair the damages and replace what could not be fixed.

“The state will give every affected household a RM500 one-off payment.

“This costs the state an estimated RM50 million as some 100,000 households and businesses were affected. They can only apply once for the aid,” he said.

Lim said this amount would not include donations from the public, adding that the administration welcomed any cash donations that would be used in flood mitigation projects and as cash aid to flood victims.

The donations could be made to the State Treasury, but the administration preferred the donations to be made through the various non-governmental organisations that were raising funds for the flood relief.

No water surcharge, 50% discount

Lim, who is Penang Water Supply Corporation chairman, also announced that PBA would not charge domestic consumers the water conservation surcharge for one cycle which covered two months’ water bill.

The water surcharge for domestic consumption is at 48 sen per 1,000 litres after 35,000 litres of water is used.

As consumers will all be using a lot of water to clean up their homes and premises, Lim said PBA was also giving all domestic users a 50% discount off their bills for one cycle.

Meanwhile, commercial users get 25% discount off their bills also for one cycle, which covered one month.

“This will cost PBA RM10 million,” he said.

10% assessment discount for all properties

Lim also announced that the Penang Island City Council and Seberang Prai Municipal Council would also give a 10% discount on the assessment rate for all types of properties.

“This will cost the two councils RM40 million. Government documents like land grants will also be replaced without charge if they were lost or damaged in the floods,” he said.

Volunteers’ Day

Lim also announced this coming weekend to be Volunteers’ Day, when all Penangites and Malaysians would be encouraged to go to flood-hit areas in the state to help victims clean up their homes.

He said state excos Chong Eng and Danny Law from DAP would be coordinating Saturday’s clean-up on the mainland and island respectively, while PKR’s Dr Afif Bahardin and Deputy Chief Minister I Mohd Rashid Hasnon would take over on Sunday.

“We want Penang to bounce back immediately. We will rebuild, rehabilitate and return the state to what it was before the disaster,” he said. – November 9, 2017.