IPOH, Oct 11 — The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) will prioritise the RM260 million allocated under Budget 2027 for establishing more Permanent Disaster Relief Centres (PPKBs) and procuring disaster preparedness assets and equipment, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The deputy prime minister said the move would enable Nadma to assist frontline agencies in enhancing their operational capabilities, particularly in dealing with disasters such as floods.

“We want to establish two permanent disaster relief centres in each state. Insya-Allah, with the additional allocation next year, we will add more according to requirements,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said this at a press conference after launching the 2026 National Preparedness Month (BKN) at the Ipoh Convention Centre here today.

He said the target of establishing two PPKBs in each state would focus on hotspot areas that frequently experience floods and require the evacuation of large numbers of victims.

On July 6, Deputy Digital Minister Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, representing the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, said during a Special Chamber session in the Dewan Rakyat that 15 PPKBs involving nine states were expected to begin operations in stages from this year as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s disaster management system.

Of the total, one PPKB each in Johor and Pahang has been fully completed, nine are under construction, while the remaining four are at the procurement and planning stages.

Ahmad Zahid also said the allocation would also be used to procure disaster preparedness assets and equipment, such as boats and water pumps, for relevant agencies.

He said the rate of assistance for repairing homes affected by disasters had also been increased from RM5,000 to RM10,000 per family to help victims repair their homes and rebuild their lives after a disaster.

“In addition, aid management has also been improved, with Bantuan Wang Ihsan being distributed to victims while they are at Temporary Evacuation Centres, before they return to their respective homes, to expedite assistance to affected families,” he said. — Bernama