PENANG residents affected by the November 4 and 5 storm can now apply to the state government for a one-off cash relief of RM700.

Successful applicants will be paid on December 16. 

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state aimed to disburse the money to flood victims before the year ended.

“We will not delay. If there is any, we will only allow a week’s delay. 

“We will get people their relief aid before the new school term begins (in January),” he told reporters in a press conference in Komtar today.

Applicants will be notified of the locations where the aid can be collected.They can also choose to have the money credited into their bank accounts.

The state estimates that 100,000 households were affected by the storm that caused flash floods and landslides and felled trees on the island and mainland Penang.

Those whose homes, business premises, cars, and motorcycles were damaged due to the storm, floods or fallen trees are eligible for aid.

Online application on www.penangbangkit.com is strongly encouraged.

Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey, who is coordinating relief aid applications, advised flood victims to apply online for faster processing.

She said as of yesterday, 4,747 people had already filled in the forms online on the beta version. 

Most had indicated that they wanted the money deposited into their bank accounts, she said.

The hard copy forms will be available starting tomorrow at the service centres of assemblymen.

All applications, including those made online, must be accompanied by supporting documents as proof of address. 

Those renting houses and business premises are to submit copies of their utility bills or rental agreements as supporting documents.

All applications will be carefully checked for location and damage to property. 

Application closes at 5pm, December 2. Supporting documents must reach the assemblymen’s service centres by 5pm, December 8.

During the application period from today to December 2, assemblymen’s service centres will open longer hours or set up special counters to facilitate the applications.

The offices involved in the exercise registrations are the Bayan Baru parliamentary constituency, and Air Itam, Machang Bubok and Sungai Pinang state constituencies service centres.

The special counters set up are at the JKKK (village development and security committee) container and rukun tetangga office in Taman Kota Permai; Kok Beng coffee shop in Taman Makok; Padang Lalang surau in Kampung Padang Lalang; Kedai At on Jalan Megat Harun in Kampung Baru Alma; the Taman Jumbu Mawar Residents Association’s office; and Ti Ling Kong in Taman Desa Damai.

Other special counters are opened at the rukun tetangga office in Taman Sri Rambai Phase 4; Yi Lan Teng in Taman Sri Rambai Phase 2 and 3; and number 49, Lorong Tembikai 3 in Taman Sri Rambai Phase 1.

Those affected in the Taman Permai Jaya 1 and 2 areas are to call Michael Tan at 012-4873101 for details.

Lim said those who had already received aid more than RM700 from the Penang Governor’s Disaster Relief Fund would not be considered for this round of aid.

However, those who had received less than RM700 would be considered and successful applicants would be notified after December 16, he said.

Lim said the RM700 cash relief fund was from public donations.

“So far, we have collected RM15.32 million. If we do not raise up to RM20 million in time to cover the relief aid, the state government will top up to make up the balance needed,” he said.

Lim earlier received a delegation from the Penang Furniture and Timber Industry Association (PFTIA), which had collected RM135,200 in cash donations for Penang’s disaster relief fund and RM30,000 worth of furniture from Intergo Furniture Sdn Bhd, a member of the Muar Furniture Association in Johor.

PFTIA president Hendry Kong said the association was giving RM60,000 in cash vouchers of RM200 each and the balance RM75,200 would be handed over to the state government.

It was up to the state government to distribute the vouchers to flood victims, he said.

“The vouchers can be used to buy furniture, home appliances and other household products at the Home Furniture Expo on December 15 to 17 at the Spice Arena.

“The unredeemed vouchers will be converted back to cash and channeled to the state government,” he said. – November 21, 2017.