KUCHING, Feb 26 ― Sarawak minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said today the National Disaster and Relief Management Committee will decide on the appropriate financial aid to be distributed after massive flooding in three divisions statewide this month that left thousands homeless.

The state welfare, women and family development minister was unable to provide an estimate of the damages to property and other things in the aftermath of floods in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian.

However, she gave an assurance that the government usually provides flood victims financial assistance.

“Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who was here during the floods, did mention about the financial assistance.

“Normally, the government helps the flood victims in the form of financial assistance,” she told Malay Mail Online.

At the heights of the floods, 5,729 people from 1,527 families were forced to flee their homes for a total of 31 evacuation centres.

State opposition lawmaker See Chee How urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is scheduled to visit Sarawak this weekend to help expedite relief assistance and the completion of flood mitigation projects there.

“The prime minister must be reminded that the federal government has yet to pledge any financial allocation to the State for flood relief assistance, and this is awfully unacceptable,” the Batu Lintang assemblyman said.

He pointed out that many access roads and public facilities were badly damaged and a substantial amount of money was needed for reconstruction and restoration efforts.

The PKR politician also urged Putrajaya to hasten the disbursement of money for residents displaced by the floods.

“It is also crucial that the prime minister must look into the administrative and fiscal hitches that has pulled back the flood mitigation projects for all cities, towns and low-lying areas in the state that have been planned and supposedly be completed years back.

“He must make a personal commitment to expedite the implementation, construction and completion of these projects,” See added.