Johor MB appeals for moratorium to aid flood victims

Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has appealed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to consider a moratorium of between three and six months for flood victims in the state.

Onn Hafiz said the initiative would help ease the burden of the people who may have suffered huge losses due to the floods.

"It is the state government’s sincere hope that flood victims will be given a moratorium for a certain period. 

"Disasters like floods would certainly leave a trail of distruction and many will suffer huge losses due to damage to their belongings like furniture, vehicles, electrical items as well as property," he said in a Facebook statement last night.

He added that farmers and breeders also suffered heavy losses during major floods.

Onn Hafiz said the people of Johor were facing very challenging times since the floods had affected the state twice this year.

The first wave of floods in Johor from Jan 24 to Feb 10 involved eight districts and affected about 5,000 families. 

The second wave which started on March 1 had resulted in 40,129 victims being moved to temporary flood relief centres as of 8pm yesterday, according to the state disaster management committee.