By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 15: Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has denied claims that flood victims who refuse to evacuate to Temporary Evacuation Centres (PPS) will not receive goodwill cash assistance, stressing that no such announcement has ever been made.
According to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Uggah, who is also chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), said the Sarawak government has consistently emphasised the importance of evacuation solely to safeguard lives.
“I have never announced that victims who do not evacuate will not receive assistance,” he said.
“What I have emphasised is that those who need to evacuate must do so in order to save lives,” he told reporters during a visit to the flood victims’ PPS at Dewan Suarah Bintulu on Wednesday (Jan 14).
Also present during the visit was Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg
Uggah noted that the flood situation in several areas, including Sebauh, remains deeply concerning, especially where floodwaters have risen to roof level in some longhouses.
“In situations like this, residents cannot remain in their homes,” he said.
He added that in Kuching, even when there are victims who are reluctant to evacuate, they are still advised to do so for safety reasons. — DayakDaily
