GEORGE TOWN, Nov 17 ― Farmers, livestock breeders and fish farm owners whose farms were affected by the November 4 and 5 floods may apply for the RM700 one-off payment given by the state government.

"Farms suffered damages of about RM21.2 million, livestock farms suffered damages of about RM648,973 and the seafood industry suffered damages of RM55.9 million bringing the total damages in the agriculture and agro-based industry to about RM77.65 million,” state agriculture, agro-based industry, rural development and health committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said in a statement.

"Therefore, the one-off payment of RM700 for flood victims that the state government announced will also be extended to all farmers, breeders, fish farm owners and fishermen who were also affected,” he added.

Dr Afif said about 5,278 farmers, 92 livestock breeders and 134 fish farm owners and fishermen were affected by the floods.

He said the state government will announce the release of the application forms for the payment at a later date.

The Penang government had initially announced a RM500 one-off payment for all affected by the floods but topped it up to RM200 which will be paid from the donations the state had received through its flood relief fund under the "Penang Bangkit” programme.

According to Penang Bangkit coordinator and Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim, the state has collected about RM15 million in donations under its flood relief fund as at this morning.

It was also announced today that many of the flood victims are in need of new stoves so Pensonic and Wah Lee Electrical has offered special prices for double-burner stoves especially for the flood victims.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said corporations or well-wishers who wanted to purchase stoves in bulk for the flood victims may purchase it from Pensonic and Wah Lee at special prices of RM65 and RM55.

"They can purchase even 10 units, it doesn’t have to be 100 units or more, from either Pensonic or Wah Lee but all these stoves must be sent to the state government’s collection centre at the Silver Jubilee Home hall for it to be distributed to the flood victims,” he said.

All information on the one-off payment and other programmes for flood victims are available on the penangbangkit.com website.