By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 26: Viral allegations claiming delays and inaction over the RM1,000 flood relief assistance are unfair, as the Sarawak government has already channelled aid to over 90 per cent of victims who were housed in temporary evacuation centres, while disbursement to 6,178 verified heads of household residing outside evacuation centres began last week, following the worst flood to hit Bintulu in January 2025.
Tanjung Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang Leong Ming said the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has been actively monitoring the progress of the aid distribution and that the situation has seen significant improvement due to close coordination and verification efforts.
“SDMC has approved 6,178 eligible recipient households outside evacuation centres and initiated a phased distribution of the RM1,000 relief payment last week.
“Furthermore, more than 90 per cent of victims who stayed in evacuation centres have already received the aid,” he told a press conference at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) Complex Media Centre today.
Pang said households that did not stay at evacuation centres are currently undergoing the necessary verification process to ensure accuracy and prevent duplication.
“The application criteria are clear: the applicant must be a Malaysian citizen, the head of a household residing in Bintulu, and must provide complete and accurate information,” he emphasised.
He said SDMC reported that 1,492 households stayed in temporary evacuation centres during the flood. Among them, 190 applications contained insufficient data, while 208 were deemed ineligible. For households outside the centres, 6,178 successful applications were approved out of more than 7,000 submissions.
“We observed cases where one household submitted two to five applications, which significantly slowed down the approval process,” he said, noting that only the head of household is allowed to apply.
Despite the challenges, Pang said the government remains committed to ensuring all eligible victims receive their financial assistance. Due to the strict nature of the verification and distribution process, he estimated that full completion of the disbursement will take until late December this year.
He advised applicants to check their bank accounts as the RM1,000 assistance is being deposited directly into their personal accounts.
“We have observed that some individuals with ill intentions are constantly attacking the aid issue online. We hope victims who have received the aid can come forward and confirm that the Sarawak government is indeed disbursing the funds. This will reassure others to wait patiently and calmly,” Pang said.
He added that instead of raising concerns through social media or newspapers, it is more effective to channel issues through the proper authorities so that they can be addressed quickly and constructively. — DayakDaily
