KANGAR: The Kangar Municipal Council (MPK) has exempted the November rental payment for some 10,000 traders whose business premises were impacted by the recent floods in Perlis.
Its president Affendi Rajini Kanth said the business premises included night markets, farmers’ markets, kiosks and shops, and that the exemption is part of the council’s efforts to ease the burden on those affected by the disaster.
“A full rental exemption for November has been granted to all traders, including those whose premises were not flooded but were unable to operate during the floods.
“If traders have already made the payment for November, the amount will be carried forward to the following month.
“For example, for kiosks with a monthly rental of RM300, they will not need to pay rent for January,” he told reporters after opening the Rancakkan Madani sales programme here today.
The one-day event was organised by the Perlis Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama).
Perlis Fama director Mohd Anzara Azizan said the recent floods caused losses amounting to RM340,400 for 27 of the authority’s entrepreneurs in the state, including damage to equipment, raw materials, crops and market outlets.
“All this information has been compiled and submitted to Fama headquarters for further action.
“The report on these damages has also been forwarded to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry for applications through the Agricultural Disaster Fund as part of efforts to help entrepreneurs restore their operations,” he said.
Floods in Perlis have fully recovered, while conditions in Perak and Selangor continue to improve, but Pahang has recorded a slight increase in evacuees this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the last relief centre at SK Felcra Lubuk Sireh, Padang Besar, which housed 15 evacuees as of 8am, was officially closed at 10am after all victims were allowed to return home.
However, state Civil Defence Force (CDF) director Lt Col (PA) Mohd Izaimi Md Daud said the agency remains on full alert for any eventuality, including the possibility of a second wave of floods.
– Bernama
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
