Defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein said 3,000 armed forces personnel, involving 775 families, were affected by the floods.

He said the contribution highlighted the long-standing close ties between the two countries.

“The essential items include 2,000 prayer mats, 4,000 towels, 4,000 bedsheets, 4,000 blankets and 4,000 pillows,” he said after visiting the 8th Infantry Brigade headquarters in Pengkalan Chepa here today.

Hishammuddin said Mindef had so far collected flood relief aid amounting to RM3.7 million in cash and basic necessities.

The contributions were from the Armed Forces Fund Board, Affin Bank, Boustead Group, Pharmaniaga and Sapura Group.

“These donations will be fully utilised to ease the burden of not only Mindef personnel and civilian staff, but also to help armed forces veterans affected by floods that hit several states,” he said.

Meanwhile, the US government has pledged RM420,000 for flood relief efforts to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.

The US embassy in Kuala Lumpur said the aid made through the US Agency for International Development will support the provision of health services to flood-affected households in Malaysia, including medical treatment, disease prevention, and mental health services.

“The US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, on behalf of the American people, expresses its sympathies to the victims of the recent flooding in Malaysia,” the embassy said in a statement.

The US embassy’s chargé d’affaires Michael Newbill said he and his colleagues hoped the funds will help provide relief for the people impacted by the recent flooding.

“My colleagues and I also raised funds to help members of our own embassy community whose homes and families were impacted by the flooding.”