PUTRAJAYA: The allocations for compassionate aid (BWI) have been channelled to the flood-affected states and will be distributed to the deserving recipients through three methods of payment, says Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali (pic).

       The methods are cash payment at Disaster Operations Control Centres (PKOB), house-to-house cash payment and electronic fund transfer.

       “These methods are being used to make the distribution of the BWI to the recipients quickly and effectively based on the confirmation given by the entrusted community leaders without them having to fill in any application form,” said the Chief Secretary to the Government in a statement.

       Mohd Zuki said the aid was part of the matters decided in the meeting of the Task Force for Post-Flood Management and Preparation for Second Wave of Floods, which he chaired at Perdana Putra yesterday.

       According to Bernama, the meeting was also attended by Public Service director-general Tan Sri Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman, Chief of Defence Force Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and National Disaster Management Agency director- general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim.

       Mohd Zuki said the BWI of RM1,000 for heads of households and RM10,000 for next of kin of disaster victims were coordinated at the PKOB with cooperation from the Implementation Planning Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department.

       He said to date, the government had allocated RM34mil to be distributed to 34,000 heads of households in flood-hit states, and that the payment had started yesterday.

       “The number of recipients was based on the information received from temporary relief centres.

       “Efforts are being taken to identify the others who have yet to register so that the aid can be channelled to them as soon as possible,” he said.

       Mohd Zuki said the meeting also decided that the Housing and Local Government Ministry would synchronise government assets and those from the private sector, non-governmental organisations and individuals for the purpose of managing the post-flood cleaning operations.

       He said the effort would be directly assisted by the Environment and Water Ministry, especially in the preparation of solid waste transit stations in areas affected by floods.

       “The police will help ensure a clear path for cleaning machinery to send solid waste to the designated waste transit stations,” he said.

       Mohd Zuki also said the Public Service Department (PSD) would coordinate adopted flood-affected areas to every ministry, department and government agency.

       “The PSD will also coordinate efforts to mobilise civil servants to help in the cleaning and humanitarian mission,” he said.

       He said the meeting also agreed that efforts to repair basic infrastructure such as damaged roads, flood mitigation, sewerage system and utilities would be coordinated by the Works Ministry, Environment and Water Ministry as well as Finance Ministry through a simple procurement method for the benefit of the public.

       He added that the preparedness mechanism for disaster and post- disaster management would always be reviewed and fine-tuned from time to time according to the Prime Minister’s order.