Malaysian govt announces relief fund for flood victims

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian government on Thursday announced aid for some 20,000 victims affected by floods that hit the northeast of peninsular Malaysia.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, on his visit to flood areas, announced a 500 ringgit ($163) relief fund for every household that had been evacuated to an official relief center, in a bid to ease the financial burden of the flood victims.

A Thai villager paddles through his flooded village of Sungai Kolok, a Thai town bordering Malaysia, 1,200 km south of Bangkok Dec 27, 2012. The flood situation in the northeastern states of Peninsula Malaysia has worsened as the number of residents evacuated to relief centres reached nearly 14,000 on Wednesday morning, The Star daily reported. [Photo/Agencies]

He said the Agriculture Department would be responsible for evaluation of the damage or destruction to agricultural produce, including livestock.

Floods caused by heavy rains in monsoon season has sent thousands away from home in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang states. Some 20,000 took shelters in relief centers in the three states as of Wednesday night.

The online portal of local Sinchew Daily reported that the flood had claimed at least six lives by Wednesday in the Terengganu state.

Meanwhile, weather condition in some of the flood-hit areas has improved, as more than 4,000 evacuees were allowed to go home on Thursday morning.