The RM9.3 million allocated for management of natural disasters under Budget 2015 is proof that management of disasters is not a priority, a PAS leader said today.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said this is so if the allocation is compared with the allocation for the Permata programme.

“Allocation for management of natural disasters is only RM9.3 million under Budget 2015 while Permata (as well as other quarters) are given allocations worth RM711 million,” Salahuddin said at a press conference today.

Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan ( right ) had explained that Permata did not receive the total of RM711 million as alleged, but rather only a part of it.

The RM711 allocation is divided between Permata, the Education Ministry, Kemas kindergartens, as well as Perpaduan kindergartens.

Allocation for Permata was approximately RM42,831,500 for 2014 and RM30,690,100 for 2015.

Meanwhile, Salahuddin - who is also Malaysian Emergency Disaster Management (MEDM) chairperson - noted that the budget presented by the government did not show the country’s priority in facing floods.

“The budget for management of natural disasters did not show that it is prioritised.

"It is not as if the government does not have any experience in facing unforeseen disasters. I hope disasters such as floods will be a priority,” he added.