Shahidan: 'This is Parliament, not a zoo!'

KUALA LUMPUR: The House experienced a brief fiery moment in the morning after several MPs were dissatisfied with Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim's explanation on the ministry's efforts to mitigate flash floods in Kuala Lumpur.

There were several interjections by MPs in the House and Shahidan was eventually triggered when an unknown MP kept on interrupting his reply, which led to the Arau MP (pic) reminding MPs that the Parliament was not a zoo.

"What is your problem YB? Tell me. If you are anak jantan (a man), then stand up.

"This is not a zoo. This is the Parliament. If you want to speak, stand up," said Shahidan during Oral Question Time in Parliament on Monday (July 18) morning.

P. Prabakaran (PH-Batu) subsequently stood up, and Shahidan proceeded with his reply on the ministry's efforts to mitigate flash floods in Kuala Lumpur.

Earlier, Shahidan was explaining the ministry's immediate, medium and long-term efforts to mitigate flash floods in KL, in response to a question by Fong Kui Lun (PH-Bukit Bintang),

Shahidan said the flash floods in KL on April 25 was caused by clogged drains, which was addressed by ensuring all scupper drains were checked regularly to ensure no blockage.

"So we introduced an immediate system. God-willing, three times we had unusual rainfall and with God's help, there weren't any flash floods in those three times," added Shahidan.

Shahidan proceeded to elaborate the ministry's efforts, among them the usage of sand bags and water pumps, as well as a plan to construct flood walls across Sungai Kuala Lumpur in the coming three months to prevent flood waters from flowing into the city.

However, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) was dissatisfied, saying that Shahidan's answer was nothing new, as it was the same explanation he had heard for the past 15 years.

"I've been listening to the same answer in the past 15 years and KL still remains flooded.

"Even though I'm in Kinabatangan, I also have a house in KL and I attend Parliament sessions in KL.

"How much allocation is proposed to ensure KL remains the greatest city in this country?" Bung questioned.

"I want a guarantee (from the minister). Don't just give the same answers and the problem is never solved," added Bung.

Shahidan then stood up, and took a shot at Bung, saying the Kinabatangan MP also did not address issues in Sabah.

"I believe the Sabah deputy chief minister has many problems too, but he did not reply to any questions in the past 15 years," said Shahidan.

Among the efforts taken to mitigate flash floods in KL, said Shahidan, were plans to expand underground drains.

"YB, listen to the answer, we have immediate plans and I invite all MPs in KL, and even those who have a house in KL, to follow me.

"I will show 25 hotspots, and one of them is located in the vicinity of Parliament," said Shahidan.

Shahidan said the government was planning to expand the rivers near Parliament, as heavy rainfall has led to flash floods around the area recently.

"God-willing there were heavy rains three times and the area beside Parliament is no longer flooded," said Shahidan.

Shahidan then urged MPs to read the daily update sent by his ministry regarding the flood situation in KL.

"Maybe YB was in Kinabatangan. But, people in KL can see the efforts taken and there were results.

"We will try to solve it and if we can, we will address the issue fully," said Shahidan.

Bung then proposed for Shahidan to organise engagement sessions with MPs so the flash floods in KL could be solved together.

Datuk Rozman Isli (Warisan-Labuan) subsequently stood up and demanded answers from Shahidan over the frequent floods in Labuan.

However, Shahidan was not permitted to answer Rozman, as Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun did not permit it.

On April 25, heavy rainfall led to flash floods that inundated several areas across the Klang Valley, which also included several areas in KL.