Ministry tallying cost of damage on its buildings

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry is tallying the cost of the damage to buildings owned by the ministry as a result of the recent floods, says Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the Federal Village Security and Development Committees in the affected districts have been directed to evaluate the damage in their areas and submit their reports to the ministry.

“I have asked the committees to list the types of infrastructure damaged by the floods, such as village roads, surau, community halls and ministry-owned buildings for us to record and hand over to the National Security Council for further action,” Ismail Sabri said after inspecting post-flood relief work at Permatang Rawa here yesterday.

He visited five Community Development Department (Kemas) childcare centres in Kampung Padang, Kepala Batas, Lahar Yooi and Simpang Tiga in Tasek Gelugor, Permatang Rawa and Taman Abidin in Jelutong.

Ismail Sabri also handed out 1,400 packag- es containing food, personal necessities, blankets and bedding items to flood victims.

He said 41 childcare centres under Kemas in Penang had suffered RM165,000 in damages.

“The ministry is carrying out repair works so that the children can continue with their studies. The workers are repainting, and repairing items, electrical wiring and the furniture in the affected centres.

“All the childcare centres are in operation and were only closed during the floods. A lot of teaching equipment were damaged, so we are replacing these items as soon as possible,” he added.

Ismail Sabri also said 1,645 volunteers from five agencies under the ministry were sent to assist flood victims in 30 locations around Penang. The agencies were Kemas, Mara, Felcra, Risda and Kedah Regional Development Authority.

He added that volunteers from GiatMara’s trainee programme would also help repair all electrical items and motorcycles of flood victims there for free. — Bernama