RCI needed to check Malaysia’s flood, disaster preparedness, says DAP
DAP wants Putrajaya to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to look into Malaysia's flood and disaster management preparedness as floods engulfed six states and displaced more than 200,000 people.
The opposition party's parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said looking at the current handling of the situation, it was clear that the federal government is overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster.
He pointed out this was evident in Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's admission that the floods were "worst than anticipated" and called for flood mitigation standard operating procedures to be reviewed.
This, he added was also made clear when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had to cut short his holiday in the US and return to take charge of the situation and directing all vacationing ministers and top civil servants to return to help in the relief efforts.
"Najib's return was needed as evident by his announcement of a RM500 million special aid for flood victims whereas Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah could only announce a RM50 million allocation for the states ravaged by the floods.
"This incident vindicates DAP's call that Najib cut short his vacation in Hawaii to take personal charge of the national flood relief operation," Lim said in a statement today.
The veteran DAP leader also wanted to know if the RM500 million aid was inclusive, or in addition to the RM50 million announced earlier by Husni.
"Can Husni clarify this or we must seek direct clarification from Najib?"
Lim cheekily asked if Najib would be able to convene a special Cabinet meeting on the flood before December 31 and not wait until January 7 for all the holidaying ministers to return.
By convention, the Cabinet meets every Wednesday with the exception of parliamentary sittings whereby the meetings are then held on Fridays.
Lim also said that Najib should reconsider his refusal to declare a state of emergency in light of the worsening situation.
Najib had reportedly said that declaring a state of emergency would absolve insurance companies from paying compensation arising from damages to properties and vehicles.
"Najib's reasoning is not convincing and I would urge the prime minister to reconsider his decision, or to table the issue as an agenda for a special Cabinet meeting on the floods disaster," he added.
The number of flood evacuees now stands at 225,731 in six states – Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu, Perak, Johor and Selangor – today as rains continue to fall and the flood situation worsens.
Aid workers said a lack of boats was hampering distribution to many villages cut off from Kota Baru, Kelantan.
It is understood that electricity cuts and flooded roads have also stopped banks from replenishing automatic teller machines and petrol companies from supplying fuel to the flood-hit villages. – December 29, 2014.
