KUANTAN, Jan 13 — The United Arab Emirates government has agreed to donate US$10 million (RM32 million) to Pahang government to cope with the aftermath of the recent floods.

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the donation was a gesture of friendship between Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“Their close relationship prompted the UAE government to donate US$10million to Pahang government to manage the repair works on damaged premises and

infrastructure, as well as to cope with the aftermath of the recent floods.”

Adnan said this to reporters after witnessing the signing of the memorandum of agreement to supply Arabic language teachers between Khalifah Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, UAE, with Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Department here today.

He said UAE government’s representatives would also visit Pahang in the very near future to evaluate the effects of the floods to determine further aid and assistance.

On flood aid for victims in Pahang, Adnan said the aid would be distributed after the list of recipients be updated and finalised.

“Initially, the flood aid was scheduled to be distributed on Jan 12 or 13, but I have asked for it to be postponed, because the list has yet to be finalised and if we give it now, those who didn’t get it will get upset. So, (to prevent this), we will find a more suitable date,” he said.

The floods that hit Pahang in December last year claimed three lives and caused over 40,000 people to be evacuated to nine relief centres. — Bernama