2,575 flood-hit families in Kota Belud receive aid

KOTA BELUD: A total of 2,575 families who were affected by floods in the district last year, received aid from the National Disaster Management Agency (APBN) yesterday.

Deputy Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis said the families affected by the Dec 2017 floods received RM500 each.

"This relief aid is distributed to lessen the burden of victims who lost their belongings and suffered losses during the floods in Kota Belud.

"As the representative of the people here, I am very grateful to all who had shown their concern and conducted operations to channel assistance to the flood victims... the contribution is very meaningful to those who had suffered," she said at the presentation ceremony here yesterday.

Her speech text was read out by Kota Belud parliamentary officer Mohd Norazri Nurazalleh.

Isnaraissah Munirah said according to records in 2017, Kota Belud district was hit by floods 86 times which had affected more than 43 villages.

"The worst floods took place in Dec 2017 which resulted in the evacuation of residents to temporary relief centres," she said. - Bernama

No additional security screening for Chinese tourists — ministry

PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry (KDN) and the Immigration Department yesterday denied consenting to additional security screening to be imposed on Chinese tourists applying for the Malaysian visa.

KDN secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim said tourists wishing to travel to Malaysia, including those from China, could now apply for a visa via manual application through the One Stop Centre (OSC) or via online (eVISA).

“Chinese tourists can also apply for a visa through a third option using the Electronic Travel Registration and Information (eNTRI), which is a special facility provided for China nationals during the visa exemption period which ends on Dec 31, 2018.

“The security screening carried out by the Immigration Department of Malaysia is a standard operating procedure (SOP) before visa approval is granted and acts as an early mechanism to verify the applicant's background,” he said in a statement yesterday.