GE15: Voters affected by floods asking for long-term solutions, says Kuala Sepetang PKR candidate

TAIPING: Kuala Sepetang PKR candidate Datuk Zainal Azman Abu Seman says voters affected by floods want to know about his long-term plan for the issue.

"In general, they are waiting for some long-term programme to address the flood. I can tell they are feeling impatient," he said during an interview on Nov 16.

Zainal Azman said he had visited flood victims in areas like Matang in the past week.

"In some areas, the flood is due to the existing drainage system not being able to support the huge volume of water," he said, adding that a long-term solution would involve working with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage to improve the drainage system.

He added there was also a need to look into efforts to deepen rivers and study how some human activities could lead to floods during heavy rain.

"Some complex work is needed to address the issue and we have to explain to voters how it can't be achieved the right way.

"But we try our best to comfort them and focus on urgent efforts such as arranging for NGOs to help them with cleaning," he said.

Zainal Azman said people not only have to endure the floods but also what happens after they are allowed to return home from the relief centres.

"Some like fishermen said they can't go back to work to make money because they need to clean the house first. But if they don't earn money, they don't have the means to replace household items like electronics," he said.

While it was crucial for him to remind people to get out and vote, Zainal Azman said he had also learned to let them express their frustrations.

He has experienced some moments where he felt that his presence was not welcomed.

"Yes, things can get quite tense. I understand that they are feeling this sense of hopelessness. We don't let things go out of hand by losing our cool," he said.