Official document on flood impact out next week

JITRA: The official document of the special report on the impact of the floods that hit several states including Selangor and Pahang last month will be released to the government next week.

Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said a census taken on the floods was in its final stages before an official document is submitted to the government for public reference.

He said prior to this, an assessment of losses due to floods that occurred in 50 districts in the country was estimated at between RM5.3 billion to RM6.5 billion which was carried out a week after the floods hit.

"This is a proactive action by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) to be aware of the effects of the floods which are also carried out together with federal and state government agencies involved in registering flood victims and channel aid.

"We also use these figures as the basis to estimate the value that I mentioned earlier. This survey is in the final stage and we will issue an official document on the flood impact special report for public reference next week," he said when met at a DOSM community programme in Kampung Wang Tepus here today.

Mohd Uzir said the report will be able to help the government plan and repair damages as well as provide appropriate allocations to speed up repairs of important infrastructure such as roads.

DOSM previously estimated losses incurred in the floods to be between RM5.3 billion and RM6.5 billion.

Of the total, losses involving public assets and infrastructure such as roads and bridges were the highest at RM2 billion.

Others include damage to homes (RM1.3 billion to RM1.4 billion), vehicles (RM1 billion to RM1.3 billion), manufacturing (RM800 million to RM1 billion), business premises (RM500 million to RM600 million) and agriculture (RM40.9 million to RM49.9 million).

-- BERNAMA