As Malaysia grapples with massive flooding, Ismail Sabri faces storm of criticism
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (in blue cap) chats with flood victims when visiting a relief centre in Telok Gong, Port Klang. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s worst flash flooding on record has displaced tens of thousands of people, with continued rainfall expected to increase the number of evacuees and put pressure on the government as the country begins to tally up the costs.
As of Monday afternoon, three people had died and over 40,000 had been displaced across six states. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, and the wealthiest state of Selangor were among the badly hit. Some local observers speculated the economic losses would reach around US$200 million, though official estimates had yet to crystallise.
The meteorological department issued a late statement, in the midst of 36 hours of rain, that the disaster stemmed from Super Typhoon Rai, which pummelled the Philippines. Some residents were stuck on the rooftops of their inundated houses, awaiting help. In Kuala Lumpur, scattered thunderstorms were forecast through the rest of the week.
The storms appeared to be hitting not only the country but also the reputation of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s four-month-old government, which faces its first serious crisis besides the Covid-19 pandemic. Angry netizens have called the response “delayed” and “futile.”
As the waters rose, Ismail held a news conference at 11pm on Saturday.
Some critics deemed the address ill-timed as residents by then had more pressing concerns. The prime minister did not visit flood-affected areas himself until Sunday. In the meantime, photographs of Ismail officiating at party meetings on Saturday spread on Twitter, stoking resentment.
Tashny Sukumaran, a senior analyst at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, tweeted on Saturday night, “When elections come, remember today.”
Her tweet had been retweeted almost 20,000 times with 19,000 likes.
Bridget Welsh, honorary research associate with the University of Nottingham’s Asia Research Institute Malaysia, predicted the flooding was likely to change public perception of the administration, reducing support and provoking anger.
“The major problem was lack of coordination and leadership to handle the disaster, not capacity,” she told Nikkei Asia. “Malaysia lacks effective responses to disasters, and, in this instance, leaders attending party meetings with fireworks has exposed serious shortcomings.”
Ismail’s late-night news conference, she said, “was about saving face, not saving those facing the floods.”
Beginning his tour on Sunday, Ismail announced an initial fund of RM100 million to repair houses and infrastructure damaged by the floods, while saying each flood-hit household would receive RM1,000.
His opponents were not impressed. “Walking into evacuation shelters and having brief conversations with flood victims may be comforting to the people but it isn’t enough,” tweeted Charles Santiago, a member of Parliament for Klang, the worst-hit constituency. Santiago is from DAP.
On Monday, Ismail posted several tweets detailing the government’s response. “I understand the people’s concern for those still stranded and as I emphasise, rescue efforts are being intensified,” he wrote. “Thanks to the members of various agencies who until now are still working hard non-stop.”
Yet the lower house on Monday rejected a motion by opposition lawmakers to discuss the flood, claiming it was already in the past. “It is as though they don’t see this as a very serious matter,” Fahmi Fadzil, an opposition lawmaker from southwestern Kuala Lumpur’s Lembah Pantai, told reporters.
Ismail took power in August after his predecessor, Muhyiddin Yassin, stepped down over a lack of support. The change marked the return of Umno, which lost the 2018 general election under the cloud of the 1MDB scandal. The new prime minister quickly sealed a cooperation pact with opposition parties, pausing months of turmoil.
The flooding has shaken the relative political calm.
Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said the federal and respective state governments “should have been prepared but this is not the time to point blame.”
“My request,” he added, “is get to the ground and help the people.”
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s worst flash flooding on record has displaced tens of thousands of people, with continued rainfall expected to increase the number of evacuees and put pressure on the government as the country begins to tally up the costs.
As of Monday afternoon, three people had died and over 40,000 had been displaced across six states. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, and the wealthiest state of Selangor were among the badly hit. Some local observers speculated the economic losses would reach around US$200 million, though official estimates had yet to crystallise.
The meteorological department issued a late statement, in the midst of 36 hours of rain, that the disaster stemmed from Super Typhoon Rai, which pummelled the Philippines. Some residents were stuck on the rooftops of their inundated houses, awaiting help. In Kuala Lumpur, scattered thunderstorms were forecast through the rest of the week.
The storms appeared to be hitting not only the country but also the reputation of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s four-month-old government, which faces its first serious crisis besides the Covid-19 pandemic. Angry netizens have called the response “delayed” and “futile.”
As the waters rose, Ismail held a news conference at 11pm on Saturday.
Some critics deemed the address ill-timed as residents by then had more pressing concerns. The prime minister did not visit flood-affected areas himself until Sunday. In the meantime, photographs of Ismail officiating at party meetings on Saturday spread on Twitter, stoking resentment.
Tashny Sukumaran, a senior analyst at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, tweeted on Saturday night, “When elections come, remember today.”
Her tweet had been retweeted almost 20,000 times with 19,000 likes.
Bridget Welsh, honorary research associate with the University of Nottingham’s Asia Research Institute Malaysia, predicted the flooding was likely to change public perception of the administration, reducing support and provoking anger.
“The major problem was lack of coordination and leadership to handle the disaster, not capacity,” she told Nikkei Asia. “Malaysia lacks effective responses to disasters, and, in this instance, leaders attending party meetings with fireworks has exposed serious shortcomings.”
Ismail’s late-night news conference, she said, “was about saving face, not saving those facing the floods.”
Beginning his tour on Sunday, Ismail announced an initial fund of RM100 million to repair houses and infrastructure damaged by the floods, while saying each flood-hit household would receive RM1,000.
His opponents were not impressed. “Walking into evacuation shelters and having brief conversations with flood victims may be comforting to the people but it isn’t enough,” tweeted Charles Santiago, a member of Parliament for Klang, the worst-hit constituency. Santiago is from DAP.
On Monday, Ismail posted several tweets detailing the government’s response. “I understand the people’s concern for those still stranded and as I emphasise, rescue efforts are being intensified,” he wrote. “Thanks to the members of various agencies who until now are still working hard non-stop.”
Yet the lower house on Monday rejected a motion by opposition lawmakers to discuss the flood, claiming it was already in the past. “It is as though they don’t see this as a very serious matter,” Fahmi Fadzil, an opposition lawmaker from southwestern Kuala Lumpur’s Lembah Pantai, told reporters.
Ismail took power in August after his predecessor, Muhyiddin Yassin, stepped down over a lack of support. The change marked the return of Umno, which lost the 2018 general election under the cloud of the 1MDB scandal. The new prime minister quickly sealed a cooperation pact with opposition parties, pausing months of turmoil.
The flooding has shaken the relative political calm.
Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said the federal and respective state governments “should have been prepared but this is not the time to point blame.”
“My request,” he added, “is get to the ground and help the people.”
The electorate in Malacca and Sarawak have obviously not held the Race and Religion Kerajaan accountable for its abyssmal Covid-19 response, instead giving BN and their allies landslide victories.
ReplyDeleteExpect landslide victories in GE15, regardless of the pathetic flood response.