Over RM900mil needed to assist flood victims in Kelantan - Mustapa

It is estimated that more than RM900 million is required for flood assistance in badly-hit Kelantan.

Kelantan Flood Disaster Special Committee chairman, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the estimated sum covered financial aid for the flood victims, repairing and rebuilding damaged and destroyed homes, and repairing damaged infrastructure caused by the massive floods in several districts in Kelantan.

"To date, we've estimated RM932 million is needed including compensation for agriculture farms affected by the floods," he told reporters after launching the 1st Asean Malaysia Young Entrepreneurs Forum, here, Thursday.

Mustapa, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, said based on the estimate for Kelantan, the total amount of aid needed for all the flood affected states could reach RM2 billion.

"The estimate is based on my experience," he said when asked to comment on media reports that almost RM800 million had been spent by the government to assist flood victims in the affected states.

On Monday, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan reportedly said that nearly RM800 had been spent by the government through the National Security Council, including on providing food supplies, on logistic operations and cleaning up of victims' homes.

On the good relations between the federal government and Kelantan government now, Mustapa said it was for the good of the people and had no connection with other matters.

"We are now together handling the post-flood problems, which are the people's problems.

"Whatever party (we belong to), we must help the people ... for now we must set aside partisan politics as what is important in tackling the flood issue," he said.

The floods this time hit a number of states, especially the East Coast states with over 200,000 flood victims.