By Siti Rohaizah Zainal and Norrasyidah Arshad
BALING, July 21 — Approximately 400 heads of households affected by the floods in Baling, Kedah early this month received RM40,000 in financial assistance from the Selangor state government.
The distribution of the financial aid to the residents in seven villages was part of the Misi Selangor Penyayang (MSP) 2.0 relief mission, which saw the participation of state executive councillors Mohd Khairuddin Othman, Rodziah Ismail and Borhan Aman Shah.
The villages include Kampung Sadek, Kampung Raja, Kampung Kupang, Taman Mesra, Kampung Tanjung Merbau, Kampung Jerai and Kampung Sebarang Jaya.
Mohd Khairuddin, who is the state executive councillor for young generation development, said the flood victims were also provided with mattresses, pillows, blankets and hygiene kits worth RM30,000.
“This is familial and humanitarian aid. Selangor will continue to help any residents so long as we are able to,” he said during the handover ceremony here today.
The ceremony was officiated by Selangor State Secretary Datuk Haris Kasim to Baling’s Land and District Officer Mohd Shahadan Abdullah.
Meanwhile, Mohd Shahadan said Selangor was one of the first states to provide aid after several villages experienced floodings in the incident early in July.
“Selangor’s decisive action made the aid management easier. Penang, Pahang, Perak and Perlis also provided assistance. We thank them for their concern,” he said.
MSP 2.0 saw 150 members of the Special Action Squad (Pantas) from Selangor’s 12 local authorities participate, alongside members of Selangor Volunteers and Team Selangor.
On July 6, MSP 1.0 saw 262 local authority members and volunteers head to Baling to aid in cleaning up dozens of flood victims’ homes, with some 90 tonnes of bulk rubbish removed from the area.
Continuous heavy rain for almost three hours in Baling on July 4 resulted in Sungai Kupang’s water level overflowing into the homes of nearby residents.
Three members of a family, including a pregnant woman, perished after being swept away by the currents.
