Sarawak Latest News

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the money was an extra allocation to help repair the damages to the facilities.

"This amount is not in our budget. It is something extra we give to the people of Sarawak who are facing hardship because of the recent floods.

"For the damages to schools and public roads, we are still assessing the damage," he said when presenting aid to families in the Suai district located 100km south of Miri City.

"The disaster was extraordinary. In Kuching, the rainfall over a two-day period was equal to one year's total rainfall. In Miri, the rain was also very serious," he said.

Since January, floods and landslides have hit Sarawak, especially in the central and northern region of Sibu, Miri and Limbang.

A total of RM1,500 was given to families to repair their homes while RM3,000 would be given to those whose houses were completely destroyed.

Those who had death in the family would get RM5,000.

Farmers who had lost their crops would have their case assessed before aid is given.

Najib said the 4,375 families at evacuation centres would get RM500 per family while the 27,500 families who stayed with their relatives and friends would get RM300 each.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said some 10,000 farmers incurred some RM30mil losses after their crops were destroyed during the floods.

"I propose that these farming families be given an extra RM1,000 after we assess the damages," he said.