Putrajaya's RM250 handout to Penang's flood victims will be paid out in the "middle of March", said Prime Minister's Department.

In a parliamentary written reply to Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, the ministry said that payments would be made to 22,534 heads of family. The total sum will involve RM5,633,500.

Penang was struck by catastrophic floods in November last year after a 16-hour downpour.

Previously, Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, had said it was unfair that Putrajaya was only offering RM250 when flood victims of other states were paid RM500.
To Lim's question on why Putrajaya had given out only RM35,000 in post-flood handouts to the state previously, the ministry said the sum was paid out to 71 families who sought refuge in flood shelters in 2013.

"Between 2014 and 2016 there were no floods resulting from monsoon in the state, only flash floods," said the ministry.