Try ‘gotong royong’, minister tells MP who wanted funds for flood relief
Klang was one of the worst-hit districts in the floods in December. (Bernama pic)
KLANG: To help prevent future floods, Klang MP Charles Santiago said he requested RM6 million from the public works department (JKR) to clean up all the drains in his constituency.
However, the response he received from the works minister left him disappointed.
“I asked the works minister Fadillah Yusof last December and his answer was, ‘Why don’t you try gotong-royong?’,” he said at a seminar today.
Santiago added that this demonstrated the government’s lack of comprehension of flood mitigation measures.
KLANG: To help prevent future floods, Klang MP Charles Santiago said he requested RM6 million from the public works department (JKR) to clean up all the drains in his constituency.
However, the response he received from the works minister left him disappointed.
“I asked the works minister Fadillah Yusof last December and his answer was, ‘Why don’t you try gotong-royong?’,” he said at a seminar today.
Santiago added that this demonstrated the government’s lack of comprehension of flood mitigation measures.
Charles Santiago.
“I had also raised the issue in January during the special parliamentary sitting after the devastating December floods and again more recently.
“Since they aren’t taking my requests seriously, they can look forward to legal action from me to ensure they clean the clogged drains in Klang,” he said.
The seminar titled “The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Areas like Klang” was aimed at taking stock of the floods in December 2021 and ways to mitigate future occurrences.
Santiago said the government needed to recognise that there are fundamental shifts that required appropriate policies.
“For one, there needs to be a legislative framework on flood management in Malaysia modelled around the UK system.
“At this time, we operate under National Security Directive 20, which is only invoked during an emergency. With legislation, it triggers off immediately in times of crisis.”
Santiago said the government needed to set up a defence relief force to help those in need during times of emergency.
“At such times, we must be able to utilise personnel from the armed forces. They are better equipped having the resources and training. It won’t cost us much as well.
“They just need to be given a little extra training on how to deal with a humanitarian crisis.”
Asked why the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) could not be used for such emergencies, Santiago said the agency had no function and should be shut down.
“Where were they during the December floods? They weren’t even on the ground helping people in Klang and Selangor. It is not even clear what their directive or purpose is,” he said.
Santiago noted that floods like this will occur again, but the public cannot just pack up and move elsewhere as it was not a sustainable or feasible solution.
“Wherever you go, there could be an environmental disaster. What we must do is make this an election issue. Vote for a government that addresses climate change and put pressure on them. Otherwise, don’t vote for them,” he said.
Last December, Malaysia experienced one of its worst floods, which left 59 people dead.
“I had also raised the issue in January during the special parliamentary sitting after the devastating December floods and again more recently.
“Since they aren’t taking my requests seriously, they can look forward to legal action from me to ensure they clean the clogged drains in Klang,” he said.
The seminar titled “The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Areas like Klang” was aimed at taking stock of the floods in December 2021 and ways to mitigate future occurrences.
Santiago said the government needed to recognise that there are fundamental shifts that required appropriate policies.
“For one, there needs to be a legislative framework on flood management in Malaysia modelled around the UK system.
“At this time, we operate under National Security Directive 20, which is only invoked during an emergency. With legislation, it triggers off immediately in times of crisis.”
Santiago said the government needed to set up a defence relief force to help those in need during times of emergency.
“At such times, we must be able to utilise personnel from the armed forces. They are better equipped having the resources and training. It won’t cost us much as well.
“They just need to be given a little extra training on how to deal with a humanitarian crisis.”
Asked why the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) could not be used for such emergencies, Santiago said the agency had no function and should be shut down.
“Where were they during the December floods? They weren’t even on the ground helping people in Klang and Selangor. It is not even clear what their directive or purpose is,” he said.
Santiago noted that floods like this will occur again, but the public cannot just pack up and move elsewhere as it was not a sustainable or feasible solution.
“Wherever you go, there could be an environmental disaster. What we must do is make this an election issue. Vote for a government that addresses climate change and put pressure on them. Otherwise, don’t vote for them,” he said.
Last December, Malaysia experienced one of its worst floods, which left 59 people dead.
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