Time for action

Aftermath of earth’s fury: Army and General Operations Force personnel in the midst of the search and rescue mission at the landslide site in Batang Kali, Selangor. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

DECEMBER is usually the time when we look forward to relaxing and winding down before every-thing begins again in the new year. But this is Malaysia where we rarely get a break.

First, there is always a disaster of some kind. Last year it was the terrible floods that hit eight states, including on the peninsula’s West Coast, resulting in an astounding 54 deaths, the displacement of 71,000 people and affecting 124,000 residents. This year we again have floods on the East Coast that has already resulted in evacuations of those affected and the tragic deaths of several people as well as children.