Zahid: We’ll send more federal aid to Penang
KUCHING: More help is on the way from the Federal Government for Penang flood victims.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said apart from mobilising security personnel for evacuation operations, the government was also looking into providing other aid to those affected.
He said the government, via the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), would provide financial, food, medication and other aid to flood victims.
“The assistance will be provided within six hours of instructions (to evacuate flood victims) are issued to the agency.
“Responding to the assistance sought by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at 3.30am today (yesterday), the Federal Government immediately deployed soldiers, police and the People’s Volunteer Corps.
“At 12.41pm, I was informed by Lim that the flood rescue operations are being conducted to assist people in Penang,” Zahid, who is also the home minister and Nadma chairman, said during his visit to the Sarawak police headquarters here.
Present were Deputy Home Minister Datuk Masir Kujat, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, state Local Government and Housing Minister Professor Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and state police commissioner Datuk Amer Awal.
Zahid said he had instructed National Security Council director-general General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin to coordinate the rescue operation.
He urged all quarters not to politicise the assistance provided by the Federal Government.
“Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) and myself have a common stand that the Federal Government will help anyone in any state in trying times, irrespective of political affiliation.
“The Federal Government is committed to helping the flood victims in Penang, and we are doing all we can to help them in this trying time,” said Zahid, who was on a day-long tour to Sarawak.