Govt, opposition MPs unite over flood aid

MPs from the government and opposition blocs today united in a call for special allocations to be channelled directly to representatives in flood-hit areas. 

In an emergency motion brought by Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang), they said there was great need of such allocations in addition to the aid given to state governments and agencies. 

Many of the calls came from MPs in Johor, which took the brunt of the flood damage with five deaths and over 50,000 evacuated to temporary relief centres last week. 

In her motion, Wong questioned the decision to release water from the dams, which was said to have exacerbated the flood situation. 

Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) meanwhile said that the government should give MPs special allocations so that they could tackle the situation on the ground. 

He gave the example of obtaining food supplies for the evacuees, saying this was often repetitive or redundant. 

"The welfare department has to ask for a quote. Meanwhile, the victims are sinking and need to eat.

"So let us assign this task to the MPs as they are the ones who need to answer to the people," he said in his debate on the emergency motion. 

R Yuneswaran (PH-Segamat) meanwhile said the government should give special allocations to all MPs in Johor. 

"From what we can see, the management is not very good," he said. 

"The fire department only has three boats when there are 12,000 victims. 

"Some officials are left stranded in a tree for eight hours because the boat overturns. These are some of the complaints from the agencies involved." 

Yuneswaran added that the people had little understanding of bureaucracy but would ask their MPs about aid and post-flood assistance.  

Others asked about allowances for volunteers and NGOs which help in times of such disasters. 

Abdul Khalib Abdullah (PN-Rompin) said flood victims had also asked for donations from MPs during their visits to temporary relief centres. 

Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) meanwhile said that the change of government had brought a stop to flood-related projects. 

"I suggest we do not put them off for so long that another big flood occurs," he said.