THE Tunku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has stressed the importance of having a flood mitigation system to resolve the recurring flood problems in the state.
Tunku Ismail, who went on air on Hot FM’s Bekpes Hot segment this morning, expressed sympathy for the flood victims who had to face the disaster annually and said the matter needed to be deterred in the future.
“The level of preparedness to help the rakyat is good but I think it is more important to keep it from happening every year. A flood mitigation system should be in place to curb the floods,” he said in an exclusive interview with radio announcers Johan, AG, Farah Fauzana and Khairy Jamaluddin.
“I pity them. Every year I go and visit them [during the floods], I keep telling them to be patient, up to the point I am embarrassed to say it [repeatedly].
“I pity the rakyat because all their belongings and homes are damaged due to the floods. I hope the government can take the best action and overcome this the soonest possible.”
It was reported that there were over 42,000 flood victims in Johor, with a rise in the number of displaced people in Batu Pahat and Muar, who have been relocated to temporary relief centres.
The Johor Disaster Management Committee yesterday said the Batu Pahat district was worst affected with 39,944 victims; 1,476 in Muar, 949 in Tangkak and 337 in Segamat.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on March 5 said the RM600 mil or more flood mitigation projects, especially in Johor, will be sped up and kickstart from June.
Tunku Ismail thanked government agencies as well as volunteers from Johor Southern Volunteers for assisting flood victims in various affected areas.
He had officially launched Johor Southern Volunteers in December 2020 and has become a patron.
“It was set up to encourage volunteerism in youths and in societal activities, like the floods or any other disasters,” he noted.
“They are also the permanent committee of the JDMC since 2021. We now have over 23,000 youths in every district in the state. It is open to all [to join], not only Johoreans. It is open to whoever wants to contribute.” – March 13, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama
