WHILE Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob should be commended for his efforts to prepare for floods later this year, a DAP lawmaker has noted that the efforts are not enough.
Klang MP Charles Santiago said there remain many glaring issues in Ismail Sabri’s recent meeting with the Federal Disaster Management Task Force to assess the level of coordination and preparedness of disaster management.
“It’s still a mess and looks like the entire government machinery hasn’t stepped up, despite the devastating floods last December,” he pointed out.
“It’s mind-boggling that the discussions (with the task force) appear to have left out Selangor, and instead focused on the eastern states of the peninsula and East Malaysia.”
According to Santiago, the Meteorological Department has identified 62 areas in the Klang district alone as flood hotspots due to the combination of the Northeast monsoon and high tides.
He also noted that the department has also predicted an average of 100mm to 400mm of rainfall in Klang in the coming months, and that Klang “will clearly face massive floods in the coming months”.
“Therefore, discussions around disaster management should focus on the entire country, and a few more strategies must be put in place,” he remarked.
Test runs, flood drills crucial
According to Santiago, a test run must be conducted to ensure that the early warning sirens are heard by all houses in the surrounding vicinity especially during thunderstorms.
“This is crucial given that residents in Seri Muda, Selangor were clueless about the sirens last December,” he added.
Meanwhile he also called for authorities to conduct flood drills to ensure that residents know the standard operating procedure for emergency evacuation.
“They must also be informed of their nearest evacuation centres and emergency hotlines well ahead of time,” Santiago stressed.
He further noted that the most vulnerable households like those with aged or differently-abled people should also be identified ahead of time so that rescuers know which homes to target first.
“The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) needs to step up its disaster response and relief. Currently, the duties of relevant agencies are not explicitly outlined, and this creates room for mismanagement and poor coordination,” the DAP man elaborated.
“The agency should be restructured, and it should consider mobilising the army, navy and defence forces as part of disaster management as they have access to boats, equipment and vehicles that can be mobilised on short notice.”
He urged the Government to also set up a flood insurance scheme for a more holistic approach to disaster mitigation, with those in high-risk areas as well as B40 households paying a low premium for the protection of their homes and assets.
“It’s clear that the PM is trying, but much more comprehensive strategies must be incorporated to ensure we are adequately prepared for any flood mitigation,” he added.
Last week, the Selangor government advised residents of coastal and riverine areas, such as Klang and Kuala Selangor to be alert for possible flooding because of high tides and the seasonal monsoon.
The Klang Valley and other parts of the country were hit by massive floods last December, which resulted in 55 deaths and caused RM6.1 bil in overall losses. – Sept 14, 2022
