$2.8m more in loans for Malaysia flood victims

KUALA LUMPUR - The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has allocated an additional RM7,324,037 (S$2,840,000) in loans to entrepreneurs and individuals affected by the floods, under its Rural Economic Financing Scheme.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, said the loans would come as a relief to those whose equipment and belongings were damaged by the floods, described as the worst in recent years.

"We are concerned with complaints by entrepreneurs that their equipment and machinery were badly damaged by the floods and the cost of repairing them would be substantial.

"That is why we decided to provide assistance to 94 more borrowers under the scheme," he said, after flagging-off a flood relief volunteers convoy under the "Jom Bantu Mangsa Banjir" programme at Balai Berita here yesterday.

He said the ministry had previously allocated RM10,137,620 to 113 borrowers who were affected by the floods in Kelantan, Pahang, Johor and Terengganu.

In total, the ministry has approved RM17,461,657 in loans to 207 borrowers affected by the floods, under the scheme.

Shafie, who is an Umno vice-president, had earlier announced the deferment of the repayment of loans under the scheme for six months from Jan 1 to June next year.

The "Jom Bantu Mangsa Banjir" programme is organised by the New Straits Times Press (NSTP) Editorial Department Welfare, Sports and Recreational Club, together with the Federal Territory Wanita Umno Skuad Sayang.

The convoy will distribute aid to flood victims in Segamat and Labis.

Eighty volunteers including representatives from Adabi Consumer, Dutch Lady, Malaysia CMA-CGM shipping company, Selangor 4x4 Kembara Club and local artistes Salina Saibi and Fazreen Rafi joined the charity programme.

Some RM150,000 worth of goods, including food items and prayers mats, were donated by public and private companies for the event.

Also present at the flag-off were Umno supreme council member and Lembah Pantai Umno chief Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, Wanita Umno executive council members and Media Prima corporate social responsibility group adviser Datuk Ahmad A. Talib.

This is the fourth flood relief programme organised by the NSTP Editorial Department Welfare, Sports and Recreational Club this year.