KUCHING, 12 Feb 2009: The mini budget, which is scheduled to be tabled by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Dewan Rakyat on 10 March, will include financial assistance to Sarawak.
“The federal government will offer assistance to those affected by the recent floods. We have made that commitment,” he said.
He said RM300 would be given to those who were housed at flood relief centres and also to those who stayed at relatives’ houses.
“We will disburse the funds once the list of recipients is furnished to us. Farmers, who had their yield wiped out by the floods, will also receive aid. The rate will be decided by the state government,” Najib told reporters after meeting leaders of Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties today.
Najib, who is on a three-day working visit to the state, said the Sarawak government had also been asked to evaluate the damage to infrastructure and public amenities.
“We want the state government’s evaluation done by end of the month so that I can include it in the mini-budget that will be tabled on March 10,” he said.
The mini budget is being tabled to soften the impact of the global economic crisis. Last year, Najib had tabled a RM7 billion economic stimulus package. — Bernama
