GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government is set to form a disaster management unit coordinated by state secretary Datuk Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus to combat flash floods among other natural disasters which occur in the state due to extreme climate change.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the state needs to learn from its 2017 massive flood experience and the recent mass flooding that hit at least nine states in the country.
“The climate crisis is here to stay, and we need to be ready,” he said when commenting on the need to establish the unit.
The unit, he said, will aid the state to comprehensively respond to emergencies generated from climate-related crises, where weather patterns are said to be more severe than before.
The state will support this unit with all the necessary resources and machinery so it can be effective in flood mitigation, distributing aid and rescue work.”
With the establishment of the unit, Chow said, it will be tasked to explore whether the state’s drainage system structure needs to be upgraded, as well as training emergency response teams on response time when natural disasters strike.
He said this prior to witnessing the swearing-in of Penang Island City Council (MBPP) members at its headquarters today.
He also said the unit will collaborate with the private sector and civil societies.
“Penang is fortunate to have many enthusiastic organisations, private enterprises, and charity and welfare groups to provide assistance in the event of a disaster.”
Chow said Penang needs to look at climate change seriously, adding that the state also needs to address the rise in the amount of plastic waste due to the reliance on the material for packing and protective equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, MBPP president Datuk Yew Tung Seang said despite weathering the Covid-19 pandemic for the past two years, the city council continues to win numerous awards for its performance in meeting the needs of its ratepayers here.
There are two new appointees to the council for this year’s term.
They are both social activists – John Ooh Sin Hwa from the Penang Buddhist Federation and Nurhafiza Huda Idris from the Penang Homeland Development Association.
Others who were reappointed include Datuk Dr Shahul Hameed Syed Mohamed, Lee Chee How, Harvindar Singh, Rohaizat Hamid, R. Kaliyappan, Connie Tan Hoi Peng, Nicholas Theng Jie Wey, Tan Soo Siang, Lee Wei Seang, Alan Lim Wei Lun, Quah Boon Lim, and Wong Tuee Harng.
Also reappointed were Francis Joseph, Mohd Suhairi Arumugam Abdullah, Tan Chiew Choon, Abdul Latif Mohamad, Tan Seng Keat, Rodziah Abul Kassim, Ahmad Azrizal Tahir and R. Hari Krishnan.
They are joined by Mohamed Yusoff Mohamed Noor and Muhammad Khairul Mohd Ali.
A majority of the councillors are from Pakatan Harapan component parties DAP, PKR and Amanah, with over 20% women representation. – The Vibes, January 6, 2022
