Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praises NADMA’s flood readiness, orders all-out response effort while monitoring situation twice daily from Africa tour.
NAIROBI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he is satisfied with the National Disaster Management Agency’s (NADMA) level of preparedness in responding to the flood situation, and has instructed all agencies to mobilise maximum effort to assist affected communities.
“I think, to be fair, we can do a comparison with many countries. Meetings were held months before, chaired by (Deputy Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and we had reports even before I left, on almost a weekly basis, we expect rainfall or impacts on these areas.
“NADMA has taken measures, and relief centres have been opened. So, I think we are doing our best,” he told a press conference at the end of his three-country tour of Africa.
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Anwar said he has been monitoring the situation twice daily and has directed all relevant authorities to do “whatever is necessary” to ease the burden on flood victims.
He noted that it was concerning that, despite the government having channelled significant funds into flood mitigation projects, several factors, such as land issues, contractual constraints and tender processes, had previously slowed progress.
“But now the projects are ongoing. You can see, for example, some areas in Kelantan where the flood mitigation project has been completed, you can see the substantial reduction in the impact and the losses,” he said.
On the latest developments, Anwar said the situation remains fluid, with some temporary relief centres being closed as conditions improve.
“It appears to be a flash-flood situation. Some centres have reopened, some have closed, and this indicates that certain areas are returning to normal,” he said.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over soil erosion in Kuala Lumpur, saying it had affected residential areas and caused trees to fall.
“I asked about measures to strengthen the trees, but the issue is not only about that…it is also about the impact of erosion,” he said. – Bernama
