This is an increase from the RM1.4 billion allocation the government previously announced, a sum which Tengku Zafrul said was “unprecedented”.

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, he attributed the increased amount to costs for the implementation of assistance programmes in addition to the repair of homes and public facilities.

Tengku Zafrul also said more than RM125 million has been distributed to states affected by the floods for Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) payments.

“As of now, 75,000 heads of households have received BWI amounting to RM75 million. Forty-six next of kin (of flood victims) have also received RM10,000 (each),” he said.

Apart from the BWI, the government is helping flood victims with cash for home repairs, vouchers to buy electrical appliances, and discounts on car purchases.

Flood victims are also eligible for interest-free personal loans and a six-month moratorium on existing loan repayments.

On Dec 29, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he understood the importance of cash for flood victims and had instructed government agencies to ensure that those affected did not have to face any red tape when applying for aid.

The government had estimated that losses arising from the disaster amounted to between RM5.3 billion and RM6.5 billion.