SHAH ALAM – Umno information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan today sought to dispel any notion that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had been late in managing the flood tragedy in the Klang Valley.
He said the allegations on this matter are unfounded, stressing that Ismail Sabri had started addressing the problem after receiving a briefing on the possibility of floods from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) on December 17.
He said Ismail Sabri had also instructed all relevant parties – including the Defence Ministry and Health Ministry (MoH) – to launch operations as soon as they received the briefing.
Shahril said his service centre in Kuala Langat had been ready to receive victims since the morning of December 18, and that members of the People’s Volunteer Corps, MoH, and the Welfare Department have already started managing flood victims.
“The prime minister started to act after the rains were seen to be falling continuously,” he said in a Facebook post today.
He was quoted by Sinar Harian as saying this in response to Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib, who claimed that Ismail Sabri had ignored the flood aid appeal proposed by the Selangor government on December 18.
Saari yesterday urged Selangor flood victims who had felt “betrayed” to take legal action against the prime minister.
Commenting further, Shahril described Saari’s statement as malicious or mala fide.
He said playing the blame game is not constructive or productive.
“I don’t want to politicise this issue, but Pahang was hit by the worst flooding in history.
“Despite that, the situation was under control because its menteri besar acted early and was ready to face the floods. In fact, he had surveyed all the flood-affected areas himself,” Shahril claimed.
Shahril said the allegations that Ismail Sabri did not take any action are untrue, as the latter had rushed to the Nadma control centre on the day that floodwaters swept Selangor. – The Vibes, December 26, 2021
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