PETALING JAYA: Many civil servants are on double duty due to the 15th General Election (GE15) taking place during the flood season, says Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said they were overworked, citing an example of district officers handling the floods, and who have to serve as returning officers.
Amirudin reiterated that calling for GE15 at this time was a grave mistake.
“The military and police officers also have to double up their duties in protecting the people, rescuing flood victims and dealing with the election.
“Even the Chief Secretary to the Government’s house was also flooded in Putrajaya on Sunday (Nov 13),” he said in a Twitter post on Monday (Nov 14).
He added that schools were converted into temporary evacuation centres and voting stations.
The Meteorological Department forecast high volume of rainfall with increased flooding potential from the second week of November until March 2023, he added.
As such, Amirudin hit out against Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for supporting the GE15 taking place during such a period.
“Hishammuddin refuted my statement about how it was not right to dissolve the Parliament and call for GE15 because I had made early preparations to run (for the polls).”
Amirudin said the caretaker Defence Minister did not show concern towards civil servants who are facing multiple workloads.
“All the political parties have even made preparations, especially Umno and Zahid’s camp (Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi), who wanted GE15 to happen early. Yet he still wants to defend Zahid,” Amirudin added.
Earlier the caretaker Defense Minister called Amirudin out for making GE15 preparations even before his candidacy was announced.
Hishammuddin said Amirudin’s statement did not correspond with his actions after being named as the PKR Gombak parliamentary seat candidate and his statement about calling for the election as a mistake.
