Over 13,000 SMEs affected by Kelantan floods: Mustapa

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said Pasir Mas recorded the highest number affected at 3,701, followed by Kota Baharu (3,296), Tumpat (1,375), Kuala Krai (2,070), Gua Musang (1,361) and other districts.

"There are 35,446 SMEs operating in Kelantan and those affected by the recent floods comprise 37.7 percent of the total number," he told reporters after a meeting with "keropok" (fish cracker) and "budu" (fish sauce) producers in Kampung Geting Tuesday.

Also present were Pengkalan Kubor assemblyman Mat Razi Mat Ail, SME Corp CEO Datuk Hafsah Hashim and International Trade and Industry's Kelantan branch director Azran Deraman.

Mustapa said SME Corp and Malaysian Industrial Development Finance (MIDF) Bhd had gone to the ground to explain to the flood-affected entrepreneurs on the aid amounting to RM10 million provided by the government under the special emergency fund for SMEs.

He said 980 entrepreneurs attended the briefing sessions held throughout Kelantan recently but only 43 of them submitted the application forms for aid to the ministry.

"Perhaps the other affected entrepreneurs have enough savings to rebuild their business," he added.

The government had announced an assistance grant up of up to RM20,000 and easy loan facility of up to RM100,000 to flood-affected entrepreneurs under the emergency fund.

On another development, Mustapa who is also Kelantan Umno liaison chief, said the federal government had approved a sum of RM2.5 million for the building of new jetties in Pengkalan Kubor as promised in the by-election in the constituency last year.

"We will build a big jetty costing RM250,000 and 10 small jetties costing RM200,000 each in Pengkalan Kubor as many of its residents are fishermen while the existing jetties are old and worn-out.