Chow said the state government did not have a policy on cash aid for flood victims as it was difficult to define who would qualify as a flood victim.

“Based on what has been practised before, victims relocated to evacuation centres are given food and shelter,” he told reporters in Butterworth today.

He also said the weather in Penang has improved significantly and that evacuees are expected to return to their homes in the coming days.

As of 7.30am today, 578 flood victims were being housed at eight temporary relief centres in Penang after continuous rainfall for three days led to floods.

Earlier, Chow opened a new water treatment plant in Sungai Dua, Butterworth, which would boost Penang’s water treatment capacity by 114 million litres per day (MLD) from 1,612 MLD to 1,726 MLD.

He said this was part of eight projects costing the state RM1.18 billion to ensure water security.

The Penang Water Supply Corporation chairman also announced three major pipeline projects to be implemented between 2025 and 2026.

They comprise a 13km pipeline from the Sungai Dua treatment plant to Butterworth, a 3.9km pipeline from Macallum to the Bukit Dumbar reservoir on Penang island, and the Sungai Perai pipeline.