‘Over 1,000 flood victims treated’
> More aid given to those affected
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 1,000 flood victims have sought treatment since the floods hit Penang recently, said Health Minister Dr S. Subramaniam.
However, he said there was no rise in the number of specific health cases which could be attributed to the natural disaster.
“Most of the health facilities in Penang are already operating as normal. However, there is one rural clinic in Kepala Batas that is unserviceable,” he said.
IN GEORGE TOWN, more corporate companies have stepped up their donation drive with over RM200,000 pledged since Monday to help those who have suffered substantial losses from the floods.
The country’s largest quick service restaurants operator with over 1,100 KFC and Pizza Hut chains to its name – QSR Brands (M) Holdings Berhad – contributed up to RM100,000 to its affected employees and other victims.
In a statement, QSR Brands said it donated RM1,000 each to 87 employees. They also received RM100 food vouchers.
QSR Brands’ managing director Datuk Mohamed Azahari Kamil personally handed out the donations to staffers in Bukit Mertajam.
Johor Corporation Sdn Bhd, the parent company of QSR Brands, also arranged for hundreds of its volunteers to help in clean-up efforts.
They mostly helped out in three districts on the mainland, which suffered more damages compared to the island.
Meanwhile, some major car producers and insurers are believed to have waived off up to RM100,000 for motorists whose vehicles became stalled as a result of rising flood waters.
Motorists with credible evidence of their cars being damaged by the floods need only to bring their vehicles to the dealership service centres for repairs.
State Agriculture, Agro-Based, Rural Development and Health committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin ( pix) also announced that 5,278 farmers, 92 livestock ranchers and 134 fishermen have been identified as eligible for aid under the state flood relief package plan.
In another development, Penang DAP announced that RM8 million has been collected and the full amount will be disbursed to the state soon, with RM5 million already given.
State Welfare committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the relief package would be coming in two forms with the first being the state formal relief assistance through the RM105 million fund specially set aside for immediate distribution.
The second is the private sector initiated relief fund, which the state hopes to reach RM20 million soon, said Phee.
“Even if the sum cannot be reached, the state has plans to top it up.”
That amount will also be used to compensate those affected either directly or indirectly, he said.
Many corporate companies have donated to the relief funds with the biggest coming from the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which had pledged up to RM800,000 followed by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers northern region chapter, which donated RM350,000.