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IT is still a mess and it looks like the entire government machinery hasn’t stepped up, despite the devastating floods last December.
While Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob should be commended for chairing a meeting with the Federal Disaster Management Task Force to assess the level of coordination and preparedness against disaster in the country, there are many glaring issues.
It’s mind-boggling that the discussions appear to have left out Selangor, and instead, focused on eastern peninsular and East Malaysia.
Malaysia Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has identified 62 areas in the Klang district alone as flood hotspots due to the combination of the Northeast monsoon and high tides.
MetMalaysia also predicts an average of 100mm to 400mm of rainfall in Klang in the next months.
This means Klang will clearly face massive floods in the coming months.
Therefore, discussions around disaster management should focus on the entire country, and a few more strategies must be put in place.
A test run must be done to ensure that the early warning sirens are heard by all houses in the surrounding vicinity, especially during thunderstorms.
This is crucial given that residents in Seri Muda, Selangor were clueless about the sirens last December.
Local authorities must also conduct a flood drill to ensure that residents know the standard operating procedures for emergency evacuation. They must be informed of their nearest evacuation centres and emergency hotlines well ahead of time.
The most vulnerable households like those with aged or differently-abled people should also be identified ahead of time so that rescuers know which homes to target first.
The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) needs to step up its disaster response and relief support. Currently, the duties of relevant agencies are not explicitly outlined, and this creates room for mismanagement and poor coordination.
The agency should be restructured, and it should consider mobilising the army, navy and defence forces as part of disaster management as they have access to boats, equipment and vehicles that can be mobilised on short notice.
The government should also set up a flood insurance scheme for a more holistic approach to disaster mitigation, with those in high-risk areas as well as B40 households paying a low premium for the protection of their homes and assets.
It’s clear that Ismail Sabri is trying, but much more comprehensive strategies must be incorporated to ensure we are adequately prepared for any flood mitigation.
And therefore, I hope that the prime minister will also incorporate our suggestions and recommendations to reduce disaster risks and losses to lives and livelihoods substantially. – The Vibes, September 14, 2022
Charles Santiago is Klang MP