KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 818,130 people lost their homes or had their lives upturned due to the northeast monsoon season which hit the country late last year, says Nga Kor Ming.
In a parliamentary written reply, the Local Government Development Minister said based on figures from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), a total of 236,664 heads of households were impacted from across the country as of January this year.
“The total number of heads of households affected by the northeast monsoon were 236,664, and the overall number of victims including non-citizens was 818,130 individuals, with 57 deaths,” he said in reply to a question from Howard Lee (PH-Ipoh Timur).
Lee had asked the ministry to state the number of Malaysians who lost their houses due to the impact of natural disasters between Jan 2020 and Dec 2022.
During the northeast monsoon season, the country faces continuous heavy rain in certain parts that can result in flooding in low-lying areas and near rivers.
Nga said all the local victims received the Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) (compassionate aid) and Bantuan Barangan Keperluan Asas (basic necessity assistance).
“As for housing assistance for repairs or the construction of houses, a total of 28,563 heads of households had received this assistance,” said Nga.
He added that initiatives under his ministry to implement new construction works and repairs for flood-affected houses involving areas at the local authority (PBT) level are being carried out through the National Housing Company (SPNB) and 1Malaysia People’s Housing Program (PR1MA).
“As of April 28, a total of 2,203 housing units have been successfully completed, including 68 new units, and repairs for another 2,135 units,” he said.
