No Announcement Denying Aid To Flood Victims Who Refuse To Evacuate
BINTULU: Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has denied claims that flood victims who refuse to relocate to Temporary Evacuation Centres (PPS) will not receive goodwill cash assistance.
Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is also Chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), stressed that no such announcement has ever been made.
He explained that the main priority consistently emphasised by the Sarawak Government is the importance of evacuation to safeguard the lives of affected residents.
“I have never announced that victims who do not evacuate will not receive assistance.
“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 Temporary Evacuation Centre for flood victims at Dewan Suarah Bintulu on Wednesday.
Also present during the visit was Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg.
According to Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, the flood situation in several areas, including Sebauh, is deeply concerning, particularly where floodwaters have risen to roof level in some longhouses, making evacuation an urgent necessity.
“In situations like this, residents cannot remain in their homes.
“As seen in Kuching, even when there are victims who are reluctant to evacuate, they are still advised to do so for safety reasons,” he said. -UKASnews
