PM admits weaknesses in flood management

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today acknowledged weaknesses in the government’s flood management, especially in Selangor, but said these would be improved.

He also said it was not the responsibility of the federal government alone to manage the flood disaster as state governments and the relevant authorities at the district level also play an important role.

“I don’t deny (the weakness) and will improve these in the future… The responsibility is not that of the federal government alone, but also the state governments’ and the frontliners’ at the districts.

“The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) only coordinates… if it is considered a weakness in coordination, I do not defend anyone in this situation. For me everyone must be held accountable,” he told reporters after visiting flood victims at Dewan Besar D’Sury in Jelebu.

He said it was found during a meeting with menteris besar this morning that flood preparedness in states like Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang was in order as such events were a normal phenomenon, especially during this time of the year.

However, he said the floods in Selangor had been unexpected.

“In Selangor, there is a problem… we are transparent about this and I do not want to cover for anyone.

“In other states (like) in the east coast, floods have become like an annual event, so all the preparations have been made, just waiting to open the PPS (relief centre), which have been identified and are already there.

“Every year, the flood evacuees will move to the same place,” he added.

He said there are rules for opening a disaster operations centre and SOPs that have to be followed, whereby an operations room is required to be opened when a house is affected.

In Selangor, he said, not one but many houses had been affected by the floods, especially in Petaling and Shah Alam.

“I don’t blame the netizens for making complaints, I’m thankful that they continue to complain to me,” he said.