Prime Minister acted swiftly in response to floods, says Umno information chief

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has taken swift action to address floods in the Klang Valley since Friday (Dec 17), says Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.

Shahril said this in a statement on Sunday (Dec 26), to dispel claims by Hulu Klang Adun Saari Sungib who accused the prime minister of being late in managing the floods that hit the Klang Valley.

He said that on Dec 17, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) had given a briefing on the rare distribution of rainfall that will cause some areas to be flooded.

"After the briefing, the Prime Minister had then instructed all relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Defence, KPKT, Agencies under JPM, and Ministry of Health to mobilise assets for the purpose of rescue operations, as well as to manage and coordinate the affected areas," he said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

He said that in his area in Kuala Langat, authorities were ready to receive victims from Saturday (Dec 25) morning, with members of Rela, Health Ministry, and the Welfare Department having started to handle flood victims.

"The Prime Minister has already taken action after the rainfall showed a continuous distribution trend," he said.

He added that the Prime Minister on the night of Dec 18 had rushed to Nadma's control centre to coordinate tasks and actions that needed to be taken to rescue flood victims.

This was followed by a visit to Bukit Lanchung in Putra Heights to ensure that government assets were immediately evacuated to flood victims at flood relief centres (PPS), he said.

On Dec 18, Shahril said the Prime Minister had announced aid packages, which among others, includes a RM100mil allocation for infrastructure rehabilitation and compassionate money assistance of RM1,000.

Shahril also pointed out that flood management in Selangor was not under the jurisdiction of the National Security Council, but the disaster management committee.

"Through the Disaster Management Committee, the Selangor State Government has access to government assets such as the Army.

"The committee is made up of the State Police Chief, the State Army Chief, and the District Officer," he said.

Shahril urged politicians to stop blaming one another and continue to act in helping flood victims.