SIBU: Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has been urged to expedite the approval and disbursement of repair funds for houses affected by the landslide in Rantau Panjang a few weeks ago.
In making the call, Sibu Member of Parliament, Oscar Ling Chai Yew pointed out that as days went by, there was still no news from SDMC regarding the repair funds.
“This has left the affected residents anxious, worrying daily about whether situation there will deteriorate further and affect their houses,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
According Ling’s understanding, the Resident Office has already submitted the repair fund application to the SDMC and is currently awaiting a response.
Furthermore, he noted that this case has been classified as a priority post-disaster repair project, which requires the committee to process and disburse the funds as soon as possible.
Ling expressed concern about the slow approval process, citing past incidents involving storm disaster relief, where the SDMC took several months to release the funds.
He asserted that the situation in Rantau Panjang was totally different from storm disasters, in this case, collapsed wall and road needed urgent restoration to prevent further damage to houses.
Urging the SDMC to learn from past experiences and avoid unnecessary bureaucracy, he emphasised that repair funds should be disbursed promptly instead of delaying until the situation worsens.
Ling also praised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for promptly allocating RM25 million in flood relief fund to Sarawak at the onset of the floods.
“Now, I hope the SDMC will likewise expedite the approval and disbursement of repair funds for Rantau Panjang case,” Ling added.
