PASIR PUTEH, April 16 — A total of 247 families who were affected by the floods in Pasir Puteh district last year, today received cash assistance totalling RM123,500.

The RM500 aid was presented to the household heads by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

"This assistance would not have been possible if the economy was slow and the nation was heading towards bankruptcy as alleged by the opposition,” he told reporters after handing over the aid at the Pasir Puteh Civil Defence office here, today.

Asyraf Wajdi said Malaysians should be grateful that they were not suffering in fear and starvation as what people in some Muslim countries in the Middle East were going through.

"Unlike here in Malaysia, the government in these countries cannot help alleviate the burden faced by the people because most of their allocation are for the defence sector,” he said.

Meanwhile, a recipient Shamsuddin Awang, 64, from Kampung Wakaf Bunut here, said the aid would be a great help to him as the money could cover his medical expenses.

Another recipient, Hasiah Muhamad, 71, from Kampung Baru here, said the money would be used to cover extra expenses during Ramadan next month. — Bernama