DUNGUN, Jan 17 ― The government is satisfied and expressed its gratitude to civil servants throughout the country who became volunteers to help the people affected by the floods recently.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said, as a result of their dedication regardless of the working hours, they had given the best service to help the victims during the natural disaster.

“I was told there were officers at the federal district level, such as in hospitals, including doctors and others who have continued their duties even though their own houses were affected by the floods.

“This showed a spirit that is spread by the civil servants to make the civil service closer to the people by given them priority over themselves,” he told reporters at the presentation of aid to 197 flood victims in Sekolah Kebangsaaan Durian Mentangau here today.

Also present were Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal, Prime Minister’s Department Implementation Coordination Unit director-general Tan Sri Shukry Mohd Salleh and Terengganu state secretary Datuk Osman Muda.

Earlier Ali Hamza attended a briefing on the flood and post-flood cleaning works at the Kemaman district office with Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman.

During the briefing, he said Ahmad Razif requested for infrastructure repair works, discussed on proposed flood mitigation projects, including the construction of dams to reduce floods in the state.

“This depends on the federal government as the allocation is big. We start with allocation for the residents to build and repair houses and upgrade all damaged public amenities that are now being undertaken,” he said.

He said subsequently other requirements from the infrastructure development aspect, such as river deepening and other efforts to reduce natural disasters, would be looked into. ― Bernama