PENANG deputy chief minister II Dr P. Ramasamy has hit back at Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Noor for saying that the accumulated water source at Gunung Inas in Baling, Kedah is one of the causes of the floods and water surge phenomenon that hit the district on Monday (July 4).
According to news reports, the devastating silt and debris-laden floods had killed three people – including a pregnant woman – and had displaced at least 600.
“While Sanusi is adamant that it was the sudden gush of water as a result of rainfall from Gunung Inas that had caused the flood, villagers who were affected has blamed the 1,200ha durian plantation for the flood,” Ramasamy noted.
He also pointed out how activists had, for years, warned about the dangers posed by the forest clearing, which were ignored.
Similarly, villagers in the area were reported to be against the proposal of having the durian farm on the hills from the beginning as they feared such a disaster.
“Sanusi is not a person who tolerates facts that contradict the official version of the state government and had lambasted the NGOs for being armchair critics for not knowing the actual situation on ground,” Ramasamy noted.
“He might be defensive about the cause of the floods but he cannot dismiss the views of the villagers who are affected by the disaster because there is no reason for them to spew untruths,” Ramasamy remarked.
The menteri besar previously said that an aerial survey had indicated that it was a water surge that had occurred following heavy rain upstream that had caused the floods, and dismissed claims that logging had caused the massive rush of water from Gunung Inas.
“There is a need for a full-scale investigation into the Baling floods as the hidden hands behind this tragedy cannot be overlooked,” Ramasamy reckoned.
“Sanusi can spew his untruth and nonsense about the accumulated flow of water from Gunung Inas that caused the floods.
“It is time that he stopped taking the poor villagers for granted. They know much more than him. They are the affected ones.” – July 8, 2022
Photo credit: The Vibes
