PENAMPANG: Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick has demonstrated his commitment to prioritising the welfare of the people by personally visiting the flood-affected victims in the parliamentary constituency of Penampang.
He stayed in Penampang without wavering for three days straight, and today, the Penampang MP, together with his ministry’s agencies, made an effort to provide food and drink baskets to the villagers in need.
Among the agencies involved in the programme are the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM), the Malaysian Cooperative Institute (IKMA), and ANGKASA.
The SKM Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme was also attended by officers from the Penampang Parliamentary Service Centre and volunteers.
“I visited several houses in this village (Kg. Prop Penampang), and they said this is the biggest flood.
“I sympathise with the difficulties they face and hope that this contribution can help alleviate their burden,” he said.
Regarding the power supply that was cut off due to the flood, Ewon said that the power supply has been restored; however, the pressure on the water supply is still low because the Kasigui water treatment plant has not yet resumed operations.
“I was born in this village, and this is the village in Penampang that is always affected by floods when it rains heavily. Hopefully, this assistance can help meet their needs,” he said.
After that, Ewon conducted a survey at SK St. Theresa, Inobong, which was severely affected by the flood.
All school equipment, such as chairs, tables, printing machines, textbooks, school files, and other equipment on the ground floor, was completely destroyed.
“I appreciate the contribution of the Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Sabah, Datuk Fairuz Renddan, who led the effort to clean up the mud at this school together with a volunteer team, teachers, and members of the Fire and Rescue Department,” he said.
During the visit, he delivered a contribution of RM10,000 to the school principal to help with school cleaning efforts.