FORMER Klang MP Charles Santiago has slammed caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for not holding discussions with the Election Commission (EC) on flood contingency plans should major floods occur during the 15th general election (GE15) campaign period.
An irate Santiago said Ismail Sabri, if at all concerned, should have “done his due diligence before dissolving Parliament”, adding that the incumbent Bera MP was “complacent” despite repeated calls to look into proper standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“[Ismail Sabri] dissolved Parliament knowing that GE15 would coincide with floods because the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) warned so, two months ago,” Santiago pointed out in a statement today (Nov 7).
“Giving in to pressure from UMNO, he willingly sacrificed the wellbeing of Malaysians in an attempt to keep [Datuk Seri] Ahmad Zahid Hamidi out of jail.”
Santiago was responding to Ismail Sabri’s earlier announcement that meetings would be held with the EC and related agencies to look for possible alternatives to proceed with the election process in the event of major floods.
Santiago noted that before dissolving Parliament, Ismail Sabri claimed that the Government was prepared to handle floods.
“Now he says he will kickstart conversations with the EC to look for alternatives if floods hit. Why wasn’t this discussed in the earlier meetings? Is the Government prepared? Is Ismail Sabri lying?”
According to the meteorological department on Friday, the northeast monsoon season will begin tomorrow and last until March next year. It said this could result in flooding in low-lying and riverine areas.
The department also predicted that the high tide phenomenon could hit coastal areas during several periods between November and January next year.
On this matter Santiago further questioned if any discussions had been held on the fact that a third of evacuation centres nationwide would also be used as polling centres, or if the Government has enough funds to mobilise emergency rescue operations.
“Ismail Sabri’s sudden sense of urgency comes a tad too late,” he lamented. – Nov 7, 2022
