[CULTDIAMONDS]

Published: Saturday January 1, 2011 MYT 12:47:00 PM

Storm victims in Kuala Perlis receive aid

KANGAR: Fifty-three families in Kuala Perlis whose houses were damaged in a storm last July, received aid amounting to a total of RM45,000 from the state government on Saturday.

The aid was presented by Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu here.

During the storm which wreaked havoc on July 15 last year, 112 houses were damaged, but half of the affected families had already received similar aid.

Md Isa said the aid did not mean that the state government had done nothing to help the victims since the day their houses were damaged by the storm.

"They had also been given assistance through the relevant departments and agencies like the Social Welfare Department, Baitulmal and other organisations," he said.

However, he said the aid from Baitulmal was reserved only for Muslim families.

Md Isa also refuted allegations that the state government had been neglecting victims of disasters like floods and fires, claiming that all victims would be registered and given appropriate assistance eventually. - Bernama