ISMAIL Sabri Yaakob said the RM1,000 Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) for households affected by the recent floods is expected to be fully disbursed before the week is over.

The prime minister said more than 70% of the heads of affected households had received the compassionate aid so far.

He said the government would make sure that any assistance announced would be speedily distributed to ease the suffering of flood victims.

“I have announced various types of government incentives and assistance but delivery is more important. I am satisfied with the implementation of Bantuan Wang Ihsan.

“More than 70% of flood victims have received the aid, and it is expected that, before the end of this week, all those affected in the country would have been paid,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after handing over the BWI to 55 heads of households who were evacuated to Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Gangsa relief centre (PPS) in Alor Gajah after Malacca was hit by floods again on Saturday.

Also present were Malacca Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali and state secretary Kamel Mohamad.

Ismail said the payment had been simplified so that the aid could be given fast to more flood victims.

“I was given to understand that here (SK Gangsa PPS), victims need not fill up any forms because their names were already registered with the centre. Previously, it would take three to six months to complete the distribution.

“Victims who did not evacuate to PPS or who moved to stay with relatives and friends need to report to the district disaster management centre chaired by the district officer,” he said

He said some district offices allowed online registration of victims to speed up the distribution of aid.

Ismail also said he had approved an RM8 million allocation for a flood mitigation project in Malacca.

“I have approved RM8 million for this short-term project. Once the flood waters have receded, we can begin the project immediately,” he said.

Earlier, the prime minister attended an hour-long briefing at the chief minister’s official residence on the flood situation in the state.

He then visited the flood victims at the relief centres at SK Gangsa and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sri Pengkalan Alor Gajah. – Bernama, January 4, 2022.