SEPANG: Between RM5.3bil and RM6.5bil in losses are estimated to have been caused by last December’s floods that affected 50 districts, according to the Statistics Department of Malaysia.

       Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economic Affairs) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said of this, losses involving public assets and infrastructure such as roads and bridges were the highest at RM2bil.

       Others include damage caused to houses, with estimated losses of between RM1.2bil and RM1.4bil; vehicles (RM1bil to RM1.3bil); the manufacturing sector (RM800mil to RM1bil); business premises (RM500mil to RM600mil) and the agriculture sector (RM40.9mil to RM49.9mil).

       Mustapa was speaking to reporters after launching the Household Income Expenditure and Basic Amenities Survey (HIES/BA) 2022 here yesterday.

       On the HIES/BA 2022, he said the survey would be conducted through face-to-face interviews involving about 93,000 households or 500,000 residents nationwide, from January to December.

       Mustapa said among the objectives of the survey were to study and analyse household income and expenditure patterns as well as provide poverty statistics, especially the poverty rate, up to the administrative district level.

       “It helps the government plan and monitor the effectiveness of the implementation of national development plans, especially to improve the well-being of the people.” — Bernama