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KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called on state governments to step up their preparedness to face major floods and take preventive measures to ensure that environmental damage does not worsen the existing situation.
In addition to natural and geographical factors, he said human factors could also be the cause of major floods, as areas never hit by floods previously are experiencing them now.
Illegal logging and uncontrollable forest clearing have caused severe damage to the ecosystem, while the rain catchment areas have ceased to function, he said.
“Forest clearing without caring for the preservation of the environment must be stopped,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Zahid said drainage systems also need to be maintained to prevent stagnant floodwaters, which would cause flash floods or major floods in villages, or housing areas in cities.
“Maintaining good drainage systems should be a habit, and not be given priority only when there is a flood,” he said.
Zahid said leaders must also be prepared at all times for natural disasters.
“All parties need to be more prepared to face them. Going on vacation abroad, for example, is not the best decision when the people who chose them are facing hardships,” he said.
In addition, he called on non-governmental organisations, flood victims, and academics to give feedback and help the government make the best solution and deal with the floods better and more effectively.
He said major floods result in loss of life and damage crops, livestock, property, and existing infrastructure facilities.
“Flood victims lose their happiness (and) experience trauma. Their damaged vehicles need to be repaired and their incomes are affected or lost due to the flooding. This causes the life happiness index to fall and their well-being to be affected,” he said.
Zahid said in 2021, the Statistics Department had estimated the total loss due to floods across the country to be worth RM6.1 billion, given the damage to residences, vehicles, business premises, and infrastructure.
“This does not include the large expenditures to help manage major floods, repair severely damaged infrastructure, provide flood relief centres, and various other expenditures to ensure that the people are better protected,” he said. – Bernama, December 24, 2022
