Let Malaysian Christians and all patriotic Malaysians reaffirm on Christmas 2014 to provide greater support to policies and politics of inclusion where all Malaysians, regardless of politics, race, religion, gender or age can stand as one to promote tolerance, harmony and unity

Christmas 2014  Message

I had hoped that the police return of the 31 Christian hymnals meant for Orang Asli parishioners to Catholic priest Father Cyril Mannayagam in Tangkok, Johore on December 18 would start a  virtuous cycle of inter-religious respect, tolerance and acceptance of Malaysia as a plural nation to end the rhetoric and politics of hate, extremism, intolerance and bigotry which had recently hounded, haunted and disgraced Malaysia.

But this was not to be, and there had been no surcease or let-up in the rhetoric and politics of extremism, intolerance and bigotry, as evidenced by the ISMA demand that Muslims should not wish “Merry Christmas” to Christians, the warning that Christmas celebrations were only a ploy by the Christian community to proselytize among the Muslims, and the tearing up by a Perkasa protestor  of a DAP banner wishing  “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” in front of the Perak DAP headquarters last Friday.

But Malaysian moderates of goodwill and reason must not despair by such setbacks but must persevere in their mission for harmony, tolerance and moderation in the country.

Let Malaysian Christians and all patriotic Malaysians reaffirm on Christmas 2014 to provide greater support to policies and politics of inclusion where all Malaysians, regardless of politics, race, religion, gender or age can stand as one to promote tolerance, harmony and unity.

I have a lot of differences with the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Urban Well-Being, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan but I commend him for standing up and telling ISMA to “butt out” with its claims that Muslims should not wish “Merry Christmas” to Christians.

The advocates for policies and politics of exclusion would not only forbid Muslims from wishing Christians “Merry Christmas”; they would want to ban shops from selling or promoting  Christmas-related items;  prohibit the display of any Christian, even for commercial purposes; regard the “Christmas tree” as a grave threat to Islam with the final objective to prohibit the celebration of Christmas altogether.

Malaysia must not go  down this slippery slope of extremism, intolerance and bigotry which will be a betrayal of the founding principles of Malaya and Malaysia as well as the vision of the founding fathers of the nation, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, Tun Ismail, Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tun V.T. Sambanthan in 1957 and the founding fathers of Malaysia from Sabah and Sarawak in 1963.

Malaysians must be united by an inclusive vision of tolerance, respect and acceptance of our diversity of races, religions, languages and cultures and not be divided by an exclusive vision separating Malaysians into their different racial, religious, linguistic and cultural compartments.

Malaysians must be self-confident, forward-looking and visionary to accept global challenges at a time of explosive changes when information travels at the speed of light 24/7, and not timorous souls, hidebound by reactionary and extremist ideas, and victim to imaginary fears, threats and enemies – such as  the Christians want to turn Malaysia into a Christian Malaysia, Chinese in Malaysia out to grab political power of the Malays, or that the Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharavic’s Old Town Ipoh mural of an old man sipping coffee completed half-a-year ago  resembled Chin Peng when there was no resemblance whatsoever.

Only Malaysian moderates, regardless of politics, race, religion, gender or age, can save Malaysia from the extremism, intolerance and bigotry that the advocates of the policies and politics of exclusion have in store for the country.

A sober thought for all Christians and Malaysians on the eve of Christmas 2014.

Merry Christmas to all Christians in Malaysia.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 24 December 2014, 8:44 am and is filed under
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No point in my attending any future PR Presidential Council meetings if PAS pushes for implementation of hudud in December 29 Kelantan State Assembly special meeting

I fully endorse what the Selangor Mentri Besar and PKR Deputy President Azmin Ali said yesterday, that hudud is not a common policy of Pakatan Rakyat, hence PAS should bring the issue to the Pakatan Rakyat presidential council for discussion.

Azmin referred to the September 28, 2011 meeting of Pakatan Rakyat Presidential Council at the PAS Headquarters attended by over 30 top leaders of DAP, PKR and PAS, which was also attended the then DAP National Chairman, Karpal Singh, and Kelantan exco members, and the consensus was that hudud was not part of PR joint common policy framework until all parties agreed to it.

As Azmin said: “If there is any new opinion or suggestion, it has to be brought back to the original consensus which was agreed among Pakatan, meaning that it has to go back to Pakatan’s presidential council.”

But PAS has never brought this matter to Pakatan’s presidential council.

In fact, the headline of The Malaysian Insider report on the Sept. 28, 2011 PR Presidential Council meeting was: “Pakatan: Hudud only if all parties agree.”

If the PR Presidential Council had not reached the consensus on Sept. 28, 2011 that hudud was not common PR policy and that PAS would not unilaterally push for the implementation of hudud without the consensus of all PR parties, three things would have happened:

1. PAS would have continued to push for the implementation of hudud regardless of  the views of DAP and PKR.

2. Pakatan Rakyat would have disintegrated.

3. UMNO/Barisan Nasional would not have become a minority government with only 47% of the popular vote – in fact it would have regained  the two-thirds parliamentary majority it lost in the 2008 General Elections.

It is shocking that there are PAS leaders who are claiming that there is nothing wrong in misleading Malaysian voters in the 13th General Elections in May last year to support Pakatan Rakyat and PAS candidates and yet renege after the general elections on the undertaking  that PAS will comply with the PR common policy framework and would not unilaterally push for the implementation of hudud without the agreement of the three PR component parties.

Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah has said that winning Putrajaya will come second to the implementation of hudud,  that it is only the means to an end!

I am not sanguine that the Kelantan State Assembly special sitting on Dec. 29 can guarantee that PAS will be returned to power in the next general election, as what could be sacrificed as a result of PAS reneging on its undertaking to PR and the Malaysian voters would be both Putrajaya and the Kelantan State Government.  But we have to await the 14th General Elections to see the full impact of the consequences.

DAP leaders have agreed to disagree with PAS leaders on the issue of hudud because we believe we are on the same page to want to promote justice, freedom, democracy, good governance, incorruptibility and moderation in Malaysia.

We believe that we are honest politicians who will not use devious and dishonest means to mislead and cheat voters to vote for PR candidates under false pretences.

As I said yesterday, the December 29 Kelantan State Assembly special sitting to implement hudud will be a point of no return for both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

If certain UMNO leaders, like certain PAS leaders, can act unilaterally and arbitrarily to act against the founding principles of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat by devious and dishonest means, then it is doomsday not only for Pakatan Rakyat but also Barisan Nasional.

If the Kelantan State Assembly special meeting to push through the implementation of hudud, which even the PAS Central Committee is unaware of, is held, I see no purpose in my attending any future Pakatan Rakyat Presidential Council meetings, and I leave it to the party to decide on its next course of action.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 24 December 2014, 1:00 pm and is filed under
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Ultimate political humiliation for Joseph Pairin to accept RCIIIS Report Working Committee Chairmanship unless he has the political will and courage to come up with a report that the weight evidence of 211 RCIIIS witnesses and memorandum show there was ‘Project I/C’ involving political masterminds

The latest chapter in the host of merry-go-rounds created in the 40-year nightmare of illegal immigrants in Sabah is the  establishment of the Working Committee on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Illegal Immigrants in Sabah (RCIIIS) Report under the chairmanship of the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)  President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan to “peruse and study” the RCIIIS Report.

And true to form and substance as the latest merry-go-round, up to now, nearly 40 days after its first announcement by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak in mid-November when he visited Sabah, nobody knows whether the RCIIIS Report Working Committee has started to operate, as nobody could say whether Joseph Pairin has accepted the appointment as Chairman of the Working Committee.

The last public statement by Joseph Pairin was on Dec. 3, the day the RCIIIS Report was made public in Kota Kinabalu by the Chief Secrertary Tan Sri Hamsa Ali and the Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

Joseph Pairin complained that he had yet to receive his appointment letter although it was nearly three weeks since Najib’s announcement of the Working Committee and his appointment.

Since then, the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who together with the Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman,  is co-chair of the Permanent Committee of the RCIIIIS Report, had visited Sabah in mid-December and announced the five terms of reference of the Working Committee.

But has Joseph Pairin received his letter of appointment and has the PBS President accepted the appointment as Working Committee Chairman?

Zahid added to the mystery with his cryptic remark that both the Permanent Committee and Working Committee had their first informal meeting during his visit, but when asked whether Joseph  Pairin had accepted the appointment as Chairman of the Working Committee, Zahid said the PBS President  had verbally agreed to the appointment but he had to check whether the appointment had been accepted by Joseph Pairin officially.

The implication of  Zahid’s answer is very clear, that Joseph Pairin was not  present at the so-called “informal meeting” of the Working Committee with Zahid. If this was the case, how could the Working Commtitee, whose committee had not been formed, have an “informal meeting” when even the Chairman was  absent?

This is piling  mystery on a mystery!

But why should there be such great mystery over a very simple and straightforward issue – Chairmanship of the Working Committee of the RCIIIS Report?

Lets have  a clear-cut answer and accountability to the people of Sabah and Malaysia whether Pairin has accepted appointment as Chairman of Working Committee instead of all these  “cloak-and-dagger” mysteries!

I understand however the agonies that is going through Joseph Pairin’s mind, as it will be his ultimate political  humiliation to accept appointment as RCIIIS Report Working Committee Chairmanship, unless he is prepared to publicly  dissociate himself  from the Home Minister’s claim that there was no ‘Project I/C’ responsible for the issue of tens or  hundreds of thousands of illegal or fraudulent identity cards allowing them to be registered as voters to change the political demography in Sabah or even the Chief Secretary’s claim that the RCIIIS had found that there was no political motivation to “Project IC”, as both of these assertions were never the findings of the RCIIIS.

In almost every PBS Annual Party Congress since 1996, PBS had passed a resolution on Sabah’s illegal immigrants nightmare, the Project IC and calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry and the party had submitted countless police reports and sent countless memoranda to various agencies, the Election Commission, the National Registration Department, the Anti-Corruption Agency, culminating in a memorandum to the Prime Minister in 2007.

They all bore one common theme – the explosion of the population in Sabah as a result of the influx of illegal immigrants was part of a political conspiracy, like ‘Project IC’, to increase Muslim voters to topple the PBS from power.

Is Joseph Pairin now going to admit that the raison d’etre of his and PBS’ political struggle in the past two decades – to expose Project IC and end the political conspiracy to create phantom voters from illegal immigrants – were misplaced and misguided?

However, there is a way out for Joseph Pairin to maintain his political integrity and accept the appointment as Chairman of Working Committee of RCIIIS Report.

As the terms of reference of the Working Committee are so wide and elastic, the Working Committee  could “peruse and study” not just the 368 pages of the RCIIIS Report but the 6,000 missing pages of notes of evidence, statutory declarations and exhibits.

The Working Committee could conclude that the weight of evidence of the 211 RCIIIS witnesses and exhibits show that there was indeed a “Project IC” involving political masterminds, give more concrete answers than the RCIIIS on the number of illegal immigrants in Sabah and on Sabah’s electoral roll and recommend actions to be taken against the law-breakers and wrongdoers not only among government servants but also political leaders.

Furthermore, the Working Commtitee could, based on the over 6,000 pages of material resulting from the RCIIIS, recommend to the Permanent Committee and the Cabinet once-and-for-all solutions to end the illegal immigrant nightmare in Sabah, including a recall of all ICs in Sabah so that a re-registration and re-issue of all ICs in the State could be done to flush out and revoke all illegal and fraudulent ICs of the past.

But will Joseph Pairin have the political will and courage to do such a bold act as Chairman of the Working Committee of RCIIIS Report, which will reaffirm the raison d’etre of his and PBS political struggle for the past two decades?

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 24 December 2014, 11:56 am and is filed under
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Criticism rains on absent leaders as floodwaters rise

COMMENTARY BY THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

25 December 2014

More than 90,000 people have been evacuated in the peninsula’s east cost states as floodwaters rise due to incessant rain. While the floods are an annual event, this year’s edition has been the worst in living memory.

Hence, the mounting criticism against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has been photographed having a round of golf with US President Barack Obama in Hawaii on Christmas Eve.

This is not the first time a Malaysian prime minister has been under flak for not being around when floods hit the country hard. The last was in 2006 when then prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was holidaying in Perth while floodwaters inundated Johor.

Pak Lah, as he is popularly known, came back but the damage was done. It is not known if Najib will cut short his annual year-end holiday and fly home to lead the relief operations.

Some of Najib’s defenders say he is conducting golf diplomacy with the world’s sole superpower and a photo opportunity of him in waist-deep waters will not necessarily help relief efforts.

But there are critics who say the prime minister should be in the country, rather than tweet or put Facebook status updates about what he has asked his government to do for relief efforts.

After all, the floods are an annual event and most agencies are equipped to handle it.

The point really is as simple as this. This is the biggest floods to hit Malaysia since 1971 and the prime minister is not here.

All the niceties and decrees through social media are lost on the flood victims, who are without electricity and are either trapped in their houses or in relief centres where politicians remain a rare sight.

Perhaps all are also on holidays like the prime minister. And they do deserve their break as much as anyone else. But they all should be back in Malaysia to as part of the flood relief works. Nothing beats being around to help, rather than a tweet or a Facebook status update.

This is Malaysia, where politicians are expected to be around 24/7, especially in the east coast states.

The Perak sultan has shown his empathy in his flood-hit state by cancelling New Year celebrations. Others should, too, because we all need to help fellow Malaysians in their time of need. And if there is nothing else we can give, at least be here for them. – December 25, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 25 December 2014, 4:55 pm and is filed under
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Why is it so difficult to declare State of Emergency in flood-hit areas?

 – Lokman Mustafa

The Malaysian Insider

25 December 2014

What are the prerequisites for the proclamation of a State of Emergency to be made in an area severely hit by natural disaster?

To my knowledge, such a proclamation is a formal step for local officials to receive assistance from the federal administration.

In the US, a state of emergency is issued when a disaster occurs that requires State aid to help alleviate damages.

The declaration also enables the governor of a state to make resources immediately available to rescue, evacuate and provide basic needs in affected areas.

Although the state of emergency declaration does not restrict citizen movements or activities, access to affected areas may be limited due to concerns for public safety.

The declaration is revoked when support is no longer needed for the affected areas.

In Misissippi US, Governor Phil Bryant issued a state of emergency on December 23 for two counties badly hit by tornado.

In an update on his official webpage www.governorbryant.com, Bryant said a state of emergency would authorise the use of additional state resources in storm response efforts.

On Tuesday (December 23), there were reports of damage to both homes and businesses in Marion County hit by a tornado, leaving some 6,300 people without electricity.

Over in California, two weeks of heavy rain and strong wind have resulted in floods, mudslides and evacuations, prompting Gov. Jerry Brown to issue a State of Emergency in four counties on December 22.

The storm had caused mudslides that left 10 Camarillo Springs homes uninhabitable.

Barisan Nasional MP from Ketereh Tan Sri Annuar Musa, on the other hand, is urging the National Security Council (MKN) to immediately declare a state of emergency in flood-hit areas in Kelantan.

Annuar has also asked for the armed forces to be more involved in providing aid to flood victims, especially in Ulu Kelantan.

“MAJLIS KESELAMATAN PLS ACT FAST AND DECLARE STATE OF DHARURAT (Emergency),” Annuar wrote on his Facebook page.

State Security Council secretary Azhar Mohamad Yusuf, however, said Kelantan would not be declared in a State of Emergency for now.

In addition, Kelantan Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed was reported as saying that although the situation was getting worse, the need to proclaim an emergency had not arisen.

In an report published by The Malaysian Insider, Mustapa explained the federal government was amplifying its efforts in helping flood victims.

Helicopters, as well as boats, have been deployed by Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM), Armed Forces and the Fire Department to send essential commodities to areas cut off due to flood water, as well as landslide.

“Although certain parties, including the people of Kuala Krai (Kelantan), have urged for emergency to be declared, at the moment things are under control,” Mustapa said.

In addition, only Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has the power to make such a declaration with the advice from MKN.

What does Mustapa mean by “under control”? Why is it so difficult to declare a State of Emergency in Ulu Kelantan?

As of December 24, Bernama reported a total of 58,705 flood victims have been evacuated.

Kelantan has the most number of evacuees with 24,765, followed by Terengganu (21,606), Pahang (10,825), Perak (1,030), Sabah (336) and Perlis (143).

In denying rumour that an emergency has been declared, Kelantan police chief Datuk Mazlan Lazim also stressed that the flood situation in the state “is under control”, whatever that means. – December 25, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 25 December 2014, 9:18 pm and is filed under
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Why PM not only away in secret holiday in Hawaii, but not a single UMNO Minister visiting hardest-hit Kelantan to show the Federal Government’s concern for the worst floods since 1971?

The Washington Post report of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak teeing off in Hawaii with President Obama (who is on the fifth day of a two-week vacation) on Christmas Eve caused quite a jolt, not because he was holidaying in Oahu, Hawaii, but because Najib had tried to keep his trip abroad a secret from Malaysians.

This “jolt” was compounded by Najib’s absence at a time when the country was facing its worst floods since 1971,  with over 91,000 people affected in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Perlis and beginning in Kedah, and with the flood situation expected to worsen and to hit Johore in a massive manner in the last few days of the year.

In response to mounting criticisms of Najib  again being an absentee Prime Minister at a time when Malaysians are facing a natural disaster, the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin responded with insufferable  complacency saying: “I am in charge, don’t worry. Have trust in me.”

Malaysian have reasons to worry that Muhyiddin is up to task of handling the nation’s worst floods since 1971, with his stubborn refusal to agree to the  need to declare an emergency  to focus all Federal government resources to deal with the devastation caused by the floods.

Clearly, Najib did not have full confidence in Muhyiddin, evident from his latest blog when the Prime Minister said he had been in touch with his deputy and had asked him to step up assistance to flood victims.

But Najib’s blog statement that “We will do everything to help flood victims” is not convincing, when he is not prepared to cut short his vacations to rush back to the country to personally take charge of the Federal government efforts in the worst floods in the country since 1971.

Najib’s position is “We will do everything to help flood victims, barring cutting short my vacation in Hawaii and rushing back to the country”!

Malaysians are entitled to ask why there seems to be no Federal Government in Putrajaya, why the PM is not only away in secret holiday in Hawaii, but not a single UMNO Minister visiting hardest-hit Kelantan to show the Federal Government’s concern for the worst floods since 1971?

It is not that the Federal Government had been taken by surprise by the worst floods since 1971 as the authorities have warned those on the east coast to brace themselves for the worst floods in recent history as a result a powerful combination of king tides and strong winds.

If communities in coastal areas and along river mouths had been warned to be ready themselves for immediate grab-and-go evacuations, where have all the UMNO Ministers disappeared to, in particular the Minister in charge of national disasters?

Najib should not dilly-dally but declare an emergency because of the floods and  cut short his Hawaii holiday to rush back to take charge of Federal government operations to deal with  the national disaster.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 25 December 2014, 7:22 pm and is filed under
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As the floods, expected to the worst in nation’s history since 1971, are already “worse than expected” according to Muhyiddin, Najib must rush back to chair an special meeting of Cabinet within 24 hours to pave the way for declaration of a state of emergency

I commend the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for finally starting to visit the flood-hit states starting with Kelantan this morning to oversee the Federal Government’s flood-relief operations in what could be the worst floods in recent history.

I also fully support his call for deployment of more air, sea and land assets and the stockpiling of one-week food supply instead of only for four days in every evacuation centre.

The authorities had warned those on the east coast to brace themselves for the worst floods in recent history as a result of a powerful combination of king tides and strong winds, and the communities in the coastal areas and along river mouths had even been warned to ready themselves for immediate grab-and-go evacuations.

But it is clear that the ravages caused by the floods, with the total number of flood victims in six states exceeding 100,000 had been even worse than what the National Security Council (NSC) had envisaged.

This is the only interpretation of Muhyiddin’s statement at the flood relief centre in Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bahru, this morning when he said that the floods was worse than anticipated – as if seeking excuses for the many weaknesses in the flood-relief operations so far.

This could only mean that although the Federal Government had expected the floods this year to be worst in recent history, it had not anticipated that the floods could be so bad – which is as good as admitting that the NSC was caught with its pants down.

With such a background, with the  worsening flood situation with flood victims exceeding 100,000 in six states, and worse to come, the Cabinet should hold a special meeting within the next 24 hours to declare a state of emergency to concentrate all federal and state resources to handle  the latest natural disaster in the country.

Muhyiddin had said that there is no need to declare a state of emergency over the nation’s worst floods as a state of emergency could only be declared if a critical situation occurred, such as when the electricity and water supply were completely cut off or when the number of flood victims reached hundreds of thousands of people.

The majority of Malaysians find these conditions for the declaration of a state of emergency over a natural disaster unacceptable and even obtuse.

Surely Muhyiddin, the Cabinet and the NSC are not expecting for fatalities to pile up to  tens or hundreds accompanying the number of flood victims reaching the scale of hundreds of thousands  before a state of emergency as a result of a flood disaster is declared!

A quick search on the Internet will show that other countries do not wait for hundreds of thousands of flood refugees before  declaring a state of emergency.

1.	Aljazeera reported that on 28 November last month, the United Nations declared a state of emergency in the Gaza Strip after two days of heavy rains and flooding in the war-battered enclave, as  “hundreds of residents in the flooded areas around Sheikh Radwan storm water lagoon have evacuated their homes”.

2.	On Christmas Eve, Jakarta Post reported that Bandung regency declared a state of emergency after hundreds of thousands of hectares of paddy fields were flooded in Central Java, West Java and Aceh. “The state of emergency effective as of Tuesday will last seven days or until Dec. 29, and could be extended depending on the situation.”  At least 17,000 houses in Dayeuhkolot and Baleendah in Bandung Regency had been flooded and more than 6,000 people vacated their homes as a result of the flooding caused by the overflowing Citarum River. Hundreds of homes and thousands of hectares of farmland in Central Java have also been affected although no one has vacated their home yet.

3.	On Dec. 9, CBS News reported that the east coast of Vancouver Island, the City of Courtenay, declared a state of emergency because of flooding caused by a powerful subtropical storm – walloped with 200 mm of rain in a 36-hour period.

4.	On December 16, the Bay Area in San Francisco in Northern California declared a state of emergency because of massive flooding caused by heavy storms.

I don’t think all  these four cases of serious flooding in Gaza, Indonesia, Vancouver and San Francisco would have declared states of emergency to centralise flood-relief operations if they have rules requiring hundreds of thousands  of flood victims before an emergency could be declared.

There is an urgent need for the immediate review of such outmoded, archaic  and obsolete rules for the declaration of states of emergency arising from a natural disaster, which is why there should be an emergency meeting of the Cabinet meeting in the next 24 hours.

Another reason for the special  Cabinet meeting is the announcement by Minister for International Trade and Industry and UMNO Kelantan Chairman, Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamed that a report on the worsening flood conditions in Kelantan will be submitted to the Cabinet.

It will be ridiculous for the Cabinet to wait until next Wednesday on Dec. 31 to deliberate on the report, when the nation’s worst flood in recent history needs urgent measures to be taken on a 24/7 basis, and not on a leisurely week-by-week basis.

Furthermore, it is not just the flood situation in Kelantan, but also in all the other states badly ravaged by floods, like Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Perlis and states like Kedah and Johor which are expecting to be hit badly in the next few days, where contingency measures should also be taken.

At the special Cabinet meeting within 24 hours, UMNO Ministers should be assigned to visit and take charge of the flood-relief operations in the  flood-hit states to show the commitment and concern of the Federal Government in tackling the natural disaster, which is quite absent today.

Leaving Kelantan for instance in the sole charge of  Datuk Mustapha Mohamad, who is a Kelantan MP, will only reinforce an image of Federal Government indifference and even neglect.

I would urge the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak to rush back from his vacation in Hawaii to chair the special Cabinet meeting within 24 hours, as he could still come back in time as taxpayers have provided him with an executive jet, and the flying time from Hawaii to Malaysia is 14 hours.

As the floods, expected to be the worst in recent history since 1971, have already proved to be “even worse than anticipated”, according to Muhyiddin, there is no reason for Najib to tarry any further in Hawaii but to rush back to take personal charge of the flood-relief operations.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 26 December 2014, 4:38 pm and is filed under
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Disastrous floods at home, but Najib’s US vacation goes on

FMT Reporters| December 26, 2014

Lim Kit Siang writes how thousands are affected by the devastating floods, yet DPM not ready to declare “emergency” and PM is on vacation.

PETALING JAYA: Without having to say out loud how our prime minister and his deputy are failing the people during a time of great need, DAP elder statesman Lim Kit Siang succeeded in doing precisely that in his latest blog entry.

This early morning entry followed yesterday’s where he criticised Najib Razak for sneaking off to the US for a vacation while chaos and destruction overwhelmed the people of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Perlis.

Describing how the devastating floods have disrupted water supply and resulted in power cuts, Lim also stated how food rations were depleting rapidly and even automated teller machines (ATMs) were running out of cash.

Quoting several media sources, Lim related how residents in Manek Urai and Dabong were “forced to go hungry because they are completely cut off” due to most major roads being inaccessible even to rescue vehicles because of strong under currents.

He quoted Bernama that reported how Kelantan Umno liaison chief Mustapa Mohamad had said, “There are many children and senior citizens at these unreachable locations,” in reference to flood victims trapped in 28 locations including “hilltops, schools and mosques” in Kuala Krai.

Relating how Rahana Awang had told Bernama “our homes are gone” after eight houses were swept away from strong currents, Lim added, “More than 90,000 have been evacuated due to floods in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perlis and Perak.

“At least 30,000 were evacuated from homes in Kelantan”.

Sounding somewhat incredulous but showing great restraint all the same, Lim simply kept to the facts and wrote, “Acting Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said a state of emergency will not be called as rescue efforts are already underway.”

“Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is on year-end vacation in Hawaii, but said he is keeping tabs on the situation via phone calls to Muhyiddin.”

                This entry was posted on Friday, 26 December 2014, 11:22 am and is filed under
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Flood victims anxious as ATMs run out of cash

Malaysiakini

3:29AM Dec 26, 2014

Water supply and electricity cuts in several flood-affected areas in worst-hit state Kelantan is raising anxieties among flood victims as supplies run low.

 Residents in parts of Pasir Mas told Malaysiakini say they no longer have running water or power supply, while automated teller machines (ATMs) are out of cash.

 Others say they their food ration has almost depleted with most major roads inaccessible even to rescue vehicles due to strong flood currents.

Astro Awani reported that some residents in Manek Urai and Dabong are forced to go hungry because they are completely cut off.

 On Wednesday night, army rescue personnel evacuated 400 who had been stranded on the third floor of SK Manek Urai Lama in Kuala Krai for five days.

 They were reached by two armed forces boats, which arrived with food and daily essentials.

Victims are trapped in 28 locations including hilltops, schools and mosques in Kuala Krai, with rescue workers trying to reach them, Kelantan Umno liaison chief Mustapa Mohamad told Bernama.

 “There are many children and senior citizens at these unreachable locations. Our rescue team is trying their best to assist them,” he said, adding that helicopters and boats are deployed.

 Rahana Awang, 42, who was trapped in SK Manek Urai Lama said flood waters had reached the third floor where they were seeking refuge when rescue workers finally reached them.

 “Last night alone, we saw eight houses swept away…our homes are gone,” she told Bernama.

 More than 90,000 have been evacuated due to floods in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perlis and Perak.

 At least 30,000 were evacuated from homes in Kelantan, but Channel News Asia reported that many refuse to leave fearing looting.

 Acting Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said a state of emergency will not be called as rescue efforts are already underway.

 Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is on year-end vacation in Hawaii, but said he is keeping tabs on the situation via phone calls to Muhyiddin.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 26 December 2014, 8:16 am and is filed under
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More flooded areas, more evacuees, just less common sense

COMMENTARY BY THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

26 December 2014

If you do go to the Malaysian Meteorological Department website, there will not be any hint that Malaysia is going through its worst flood in decades, with nearly 120,000 people already evacuated in six states.

All it says is either isolated rain, scattered rain, thunderstorms or no rain in any given area in Malaysia. Nothing that would a hint of the incessant torrential rain deluging Malaysia this past week.

In fact, the number of people, equipment, aid and transport being scrambled to assist flood relief efforts will tell you a simple story – Malaysia was again caught unprepared for a disaster that has been likened to the US Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

As it is, the National Security Council’s (NSC) Portal Bencana (Disaster Portal) microsite only tells you of an incidence of flood and the location – nothing else.

Details of weather for the next few days, tides, updated list of relief centres, food dumps, operations rooms and phone numbers are missing.

Any other information is trickling through radio and television channels as media companies scramble to put together lists of volunteers and aid requests for flood victims in the six states of Johor, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis and Terengganu.

Yet, where is the disaster management plan to handle the current floods?

Last January, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Putrajaya would improve four area in handling natural disasters such as floods – early warning system, relief centres, food supply, and assets and logistics.

He also said the NSC would update the standard operating procedure to face extraordinary floods while the Social Welfare Department will look into management of relief centres and raise stocks of food supplies when anticipating floods.

“The National Security Council will study, update and increase disaster management assets at the rescue agencies, such as trucks and boats to evacuate flood victims and the sick as well as despatch food and other necessities to the relief centres,” he had said.

Right. Where are these plans and where are the assets that is taking care of the flood victims now?

There is nothing on the NSC website to suggest this is even happening, or any announcements of the standard operating efforts to alleviate the suffering of the flood victims.

Muhyiddin is in charge and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has cut short his vacation to personally handle the growing and worsening floods.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah has announced a RM50 million emergency allocation, even as Malaysians from all walks of life contribute and volunteer to send aid to the flood victims.

Aid workers are frustrated, and as one expert told The Malaysian Insider, the major effort should have started much earlier, particularly detailed information about the high possibility of floods due to weather patterns.

“This time and age give no excuses to be caught unaware – it’s just attitude.

“This will go into history books as the Malaysian Katrina and how we were ill-prepared,” the expert said.

He has a point. Floods are an annual phenomenon, the only issue is how bad it can be.

Yet, the authorities should be able to predict, prepare and inform people that floods are expected, and list out the relief centres and available food stock.

Yet neither those in affected areas or Malaysians elsewhere knew what hit them at the tail-end of one of the worst years in the country’s history.

We need more than a transformation, we need reforms of attitudes and operating procedures.

And we need leaders and officials, from top to bottom, who must always be prepared for disasters and calamities, notwithstanding our fortune of being blessed from the worst of mother nature’s fury.

We need to learn lessons from our annual floods, have some common sense to ensure Malaysia is more than prepared to face this kind of disaster if it happens again.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 26 December 2014, 6:53 pm and is filed under
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Patients shifted after doctor’s desperate plea

Malaysiakini

2:42AM Dec 26, 2014

Critical patients treated in pitch black after Kuala Krai hospital ran out fuel to power generators last night were finally evacuated from the flood-hit area.

 Doctors posted desperate pleas for help after forced to intubate an infant in darkness and tearfully watching rescue helicopters leave after failing to land.

 “Latest update. Alhamdulillah, helicopter assistance has arrived to take the victims in hospitals especially babies to shelter,” Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham said in a Facebook posting at 10.20pm Thursday.

 The army evacuated adult and paediatric patients to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), which is about 20 minutes away via helicopter, he said, while diesel supply was replenished.

“All settled diesel delivered, generator filled, functioning and power supply back to normal. Supplies delivered and Hospital Kuala Krai is in safe zone (as it is on) high ground.

 “One adult critically-ill patient and two neonates were transferred successfully to HUSM and live another day. (Rescue workers) to continue patient evacuation tomorrow,” he said.

 In a video shared by Noor Hisham, Hospital Kuala Krai staff said patients are hungry and thirsty as there is shortage of drinking water.

 “We hope help will arrive soon…Our focus is to save lives, the rest we leave to God,” the staff member said.

 Call for help with evacuation was also made by Hospital Kota Bharu, with the capital city paralysed after the Sungai Kelantan broke its banks yesterday.

“Hospital Kota Bharu needs four wheel drive vehicles to help move patients and vital equipment from Hospital Kota Bharu to HUSM on an urgent basis.

 “Those with four wheel drive vehicles are urged to contact me urgently,” a message posted by the administrator of PAS vice president Husam Musa’s official Facebook page reads.

 Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II is filling up with flood water, pictures shared by Noor Hisham Thursday afternoon showed.

 All hospitals in unaffected states are ordered to prepare for evacuated patients, with priority given to the ventilated and critically-ill.

 “We expect severe damage to Health Ministry assets like hospitals, clinics and rural clinics. Repairs will cost a lot of money and time.

 “We thank the Health Ministry team for their dedication and sacrifice in performing their duties wherever they may be.”

Shame on you, Malaysia

 Dr Noor Hisham also shared Hospital Kuala Krai’s Dr Adibah Abdullah’s harrowing account of counting down hours left of battery supply on patients’ ventilators.

“We had to intubate a baby in the dark…Intensive Care Unit and Critical Care Unit patients are breathing on battery-powered battery supply.

 “If power is not restored, we will take turns to manually pump air, but for how long?” she wrote.

Patients and staff prepared to evacuate twice and tearfully signalled rescue helicopters in the afternoon, she said, only to have hopes dashed because the choppers could not land safely.

 “They said the roofs would detach if the helicopter came closer. The only way to rescue patients is by hoisting them up, airlift them – like in the movies, from the boats, or from a clearing very near the water edge.

 “We’re talking about ill patients here, those breathing through machines, newborn babies, old people with broken bones.

 “They left. They departed and left us wondering. We were clueless,” she wrote.

 The only help that managed to reach the hospital at the time was an army doctor, she said.

 “I don’t know what to do. I heard that this morning television news showed a wedding held in the floods.

 “Shame on you, Malaysia. Shame on you. We are waiting.”

                This entry was posted on Friday, 26 December 2014, 7:10 am and is filed under
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Cabinet’s silence on bigotry is endorsement of bigotry

 – Ravinder Sing
h

The Malaysian Insider

26 December 2014

Sorry about it, but the call by the MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to Malaysians “to heed the advice of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak on the issue of moderation and not be influenced by racial and religious extremist ideology disseminated by irresponsible groups” comes to me as a joke.

Similarly with the Prime Minister’s call on Malaysians “to come together in the spirit of harmony, acceptance and respect in celebrating Christmas”.

Liow is reported to have said that “Malaysia can continue to develop and progressonly when we learn to trust and respect each other and live together in peace and harmony”. This is an insult to Malaysians, for Malaysians had long ago accepted the various cultures and religious beliefs found in this land, and  had been living in peace and harmony. It is not as if this is something new that they have to learn.

What is new is the extremist, Talibanist ideology that is being forcefully brought to bear upon people who have been living in peace and harmony for ages, with the objective of destroying the goodwill, peace and harmony between the races and religions in the name of defending Islam. This is totally contrary to what the Prophet had taught, which means the bigots, who claim to be defending Islam, don’t even have respect for the Prophet.

So who has to learn what in 2014 or 2015? Isn’t it a joke and an insult to ask the huge majority of Malaysians of various races, cultures and religions who had been living in peace and harmony with each other all these past decades to “learn to trust and respect each other and live together in peace and harmony”?

The few vociferous racist bigots are like big school bullies. So what do you do – advice the rest of the students to keep away from them, or take the bullies by the horns and throw them to the ground so that bullying stops? When the few school bullies are not reigned in, they create more bullies resulting in even the teachers fearing them. Finally the bullies take control of the schools and teachers dare not take any action for fear of retaliation by the bullies. This has happened in real life, in Malaysia.

This is the scenario that the nation is facing with the bigots given freedom to continue their Talibanist activities in the name of freedom of expression, while the government advises the rest of the people to “learn to trust and respect each otherand live together in peace and harmony”.

Could Liow, Joseph Kurup and Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who have made public statements on this pressing issue, please tell us how many times they have raised this issue in the Cabinet meetings. If they have, what is the Cabinet decision? “Sulit”, is it?

So long as the Cabinet as a whole, through the voice of the Prime Minister, does not condemn the extremist ideology being preached by the few bigots, and order that action be taken to stop the “bullying”, the bullying is going to go on because the bullies interpret that “silence is consent”. So the Cabinet’s silence tantamounts to government’s endorsement of bigotry. For what reason, only the Cabinet wouldknow.

Why is the Cabinet abdicating its duty of ensuring that extremism is not allowed to raise its ugly head to destroy “the peace and harmony that have been achieved since the country’s independence”, in the words of the PM?

The Penal Code very clearly limits freedom of expression. It does not extend to making racist statements and carrying out actions that are “likely to cause disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will” or “likely to prejudice maintenance of harmony or unity”.

No right-thinking person will dispute that this restriction of expression is not an infringement of the democratic right of freedom of expression. Only those with evil intent will claim that these Penal Code provisions infringe their democratic right of expression.

Racist bigotry and extremism are not going to stop until and unless the Cabinet takes a strong stand to put them down. Why is the Cabinet not doing it? – December 26, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 27 December 2014, 10:04 pm and is filed under
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Call for full public support to the  Prime Minister-led national response to the country-wide flood disaster with flood victims already exceeding 120,000 in seven states

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak will arrive in Kelantan today to lead the national flood response after cutting short his vacation in Hawaii.

I call for full public support to the Prime Minister-led national response to the country-wide disaster with flood victims already exceeding 120,000 and at least eight deaths in seven states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang,  Perak, Johore, Perlis and Kedah.

The response to the  worst flood disaster in the nation’s history cannot be the government’s responsibility alone, but must involve the effort of all Malaysians, but it must by spearheaded by the Federal Government and  in view of the magnitude of the disaster, by none other than the Prime Minister himself so as to mobilise every available ounce of  resources to render help to those in need in the quickest possible time.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim was right when he said in Kelantan yesterday that there are adequate food supplies as well as assets to send them to flood victims, but the challenge is still how to send the essentials to those who had been stranded – like the heart-rending account of the approximately 100 victims taking shelter at a school in Kuala Krai who had been living without food, clean water, electricity or any aid for over 40 hours or those staying in outlying and inaccessible areas.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamad had recounted his ordeal on Thursday night experiencing first hand what it was  like to grapple in the dark in waist-high floodwaters in search of safe ground, while knowing that a misstep can mean the end, and how a 10km journey from Keroh to the District Officer’s office in Kuala Krai took him and a rescue party four hours, arriving in pitch-dark as all powers had been cut off.

As admitted by the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin in Pengkalan Chepa yesterday, although the government had expected one of the worst floods this year, the severity and scale of the floods had taken the authorities completely by surprise as it was “worse than anticipated”, overwhelming all disaster management plans and preparations.

Such a bureaucratic mess could only be straightened up immediately with the Prime Minister taking charge of the flood disaster relief operations, cutting through all red tape and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

This was why my focus in the past few days were on three objectives:

Firstly, to persuade the Prime Minister to cut short his vacation in Hawaii to return to Malaysia to take personal charge of the flood disaster relief operation;

Secondly, to seek an emergency Cabinet meeting within 24 hours on the flood disaster so that Ministers like Mustapha who have reports about the weaknesses of the flood disaster management plans and preparations can make their reports and for immediate rectification to be taken instead of waiting for the next Cabinet meeting, probably scheduled for the first Wednesday of the new year on January 7 – a full fortnight away.

Thirdly, to persuade the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to declare a state of emergency to deal with the nation’s worst flood disaster in recent history so there can be a full and fast mobilisation of flood relief efforts at federal, state and local level, with full public support.

Clearly,  the past criteria for the declaration of a natural disaster emergency requiring hundreds of thousands of flood refugee or full disruption of power and water supplies should be changed, as such onerous conditions are not imposed for declaration of emergencies for flood disasters in other parts of the world.

This was what I meant when I had twittered yesterday that “Many tried childish provocations.   Why I do not turun padang in Kelantan to help flood victims. I am doing national service which they cannot do.”

I never said I would not visit Kelantan or the flood-hit areas, as when faced with natural disasters,  Malaysians regardless of race, religion, gender, age or political party, should unite as one Malaysian people to help all victims.

This is why the DAP under the leadership of the  National Organising Secretary Anthony Loke has launched a nation-wide fund raising  campaign for the flood victims with full support from all the DAP States, and the Pakatan Rakyat state governments of Selangor and Penang have swung into action to help flood victims.

Let us move on to give to priority to the flood victims.

Lets hope and pray that my second and third objectives would also be realised – a special Cabinet meeting on the country’s worst floods in recent times  within 24 hours and a declaration of state of emergency to deal with the flood disaster.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 27 December 2014, 9:53 am and is filed under
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In Kelantan, desperate flood victims loot homes for food and fresh water

by Melissa Chi

Malay Mail Online

December 27, 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 ― Grim conditions facing flood victims in Kelantan are driving a man here to consider renting a helicopter to fly aid to his family trapped by the deluge in the state.

Fearful of the dangers brought by the inundation that has already claimed seven lives and forced over 100,000 people from their homes, Ryonn Leong is mulling the drastic measure to reach his sister, elderly parents, younger brother and his pregnant wife, and their two-year-old daughter marooned in Kuala Krai.

The menace is also not purely elemental; desperation born of hunger and thirst has prompted some flood victims to begin looting homes for food and drink, risking unintended confrontations with owners yet to evacuate their property.

“Just few minutes ago, there are cases where people are breaking into houses to steal food and valuables too. This are caused mainly by food scarcity,” he told Malay Mail Online via text yesterday.

“(The) situation is getting tense as there are areas which people starting to fight for food and loot houses that are empty.”

In wicked irony, one item that is painfully scarce for victims surrounded by the floods is clean water for drinking. According to Leong, one mother in the Kelantan town was now forced to use rainwater to mix the infant formula for her six-month-old.

While some like Leong’s family have managed to find shelter on higher ground, they are cut off from rescuers and have exhausted their supplies. Aside from a lack of water supply, the electricity has been turned off for the past four days.

“I know these people and there is no access for now and the area had very strong current. A helicopter went to their area, but was unable to locate the place,”

Leong said his brother has now located a possible landing spot, prompting him to consider hiring the helicopter.

Seventy kilometres away, Nurul Nadia Mohd Din’s parents and five siblings in Pasir Mas were among the over 30,000 in Kelantan evacuated from their homes. They have been staying at a nearby school since Thursday evening.

The 26-year-old, who is also in KL, said her sister told her the water rose as high as chest level at their home. Nurul added that phone communication was erratic, but she has managed to stay in contact with her family there.

Evacuation was hurried due to fast rising waters, forcing the family to leave before it became too dangerous.

“None of their belongings could be saved,” she lamented.

But unlike Leong’s family, conditions were comparatively better at the relief centres despite what Nurul’s father told her was overcrowding and a lack of both power and water supply.

The relief centre has sufficient food and more donated items were arriving as the school remained accessible.

Her mother said they had rice, canned sardines and egg for dinner.

Another Kelantan native, Justin Chua, said he was stranded for five hours at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Baru after arriving there yesterday from Kuala Lumpur.

Likening the scene to a “zombie apocalypse”, with petrol kiosks nearly drained of fuel and some supermarkets cleaned out of canned food, the 29-year-old categorised conditions as dire.

“The way I see, the next two days will be critical. Most young people from other states are coming back to help the old folks at their home,” he said.

Chua said that while he was fortunate as his family home has escaped the floods for now, his uncle, aunt, 97-year-old grandmother and cousins are prepared to evacuate at any moment.

“I’m lucky as my place is one of the few places that are still intact. Relatives came for shelter. But I’m afraid those from more rural areas really need help. Not from safety perspective but food and water are what they need.

“Honestly speaking, if the water reaches here, the government has to declare an emergency state.”

As of 7am, 105,812 people have been evacuated from their homes in Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Johor, Perlis, Selangor, and Kedah.

Five deaths were recorded in Kelantan and two in Terengganu.

The extent of the worst flooding in decades has been such that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is overseeing the government’s flood relief efforts, has warned that floods are worse than anticipated, saying that assets currently deployed were inadequate to face the floods of such proportions.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 27 December 2014, 7:46 am and is filed under
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Kelantan flood victims plead for aid, via social media

by Eileen Ng

The Malaysian Insider

27 December 2014

Desperate victims of the Kelantan flood and their families have turned to social media for help, pleading for food and water supplies in areas cut off by rising waters.

They have inundated the Info Banjir Kelantan community Facebook page since Thursday, and also via Twitter and Instagram social networks with pleas for help from the authorities to help evacuate those affected.

“THIS IS A PLEA – PLEASE REPOST/SHARE The people of Guchil, Kuala Krai, Kelantan are experiencing Food/Water/Power Outage,” Abby Latif posted on her Instagram account this morning.

She went on to relate that the local mosque, Masjid Guchil at Guchil 4 was not a registered relief centre and have not received any medical or food supplies despite housing some 200 families seeking refuge from the floods.

“Every 2 hours we can see helicopters passing by but no one has dropped any medical/food supplies. People are sick from trauma and coldness.

“Although the water is decreasing fairly well but still we are cut out from outside communications. Maxis and Digi lines are out of service – only Celcom working.

“By tomorrow – most of us will out of: 1. Candles 2. Batteries for Torchlights 3. Gas to cook 4. Food,” she said.

In an earlier post, Abby also related that some looting had occurred in the village while a local 7-Eleven convenience outlet had given away food and drinks during rising waters two days earlier.

Across Kelantan, thousands remain trapped in their homes amid rising waters, without electricity, clean water and food.

There are also many who have fled their homes to higher grounds but are without food, water and shelter, and have yet to be rescued by the authorities.

Photos and videos of the flood as well as Whatsapp conversations of the affected victims were posted on the page.

SafwAn SyAzwan said the situation in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, was critical, with even the evacuation areas affected by the flood.

“Please send food. The victims are trapped and hungry. We cannot call the police, fire department and flood department. There is no electricity. Total connection is lost,” he posted.

Anggerik Day Sa pleaded with the authorities to help save her aunt at Kampung Lubok Cekok located in Pasir Mas, Kelantan.

She said various means had been tried to rescue her family but without success.

 “There are old folks, children and a two-month-old baby, please help.”

Hazman Ali also wrote that he lost contact with his family who live in Kampung Gertak Lembu two days ago. The last he heard was that they are trapped in the second floor of their house, and that flood waters had reach above head level.

He said the family comprised his parents, his siblings and children totalling 20 people.

“Please let the rescuers know of this to help my family, may Allah repay your good deeds,”  he said.

Nurul Asmy Che Rameli revealed that a rural village called Kampung Kemubu in Dabong have lost contact with the outside world for five days and the status of the villagers are still unknown.

“The entire village is inundated with flood waters, the villagers are hiding at a nearby hill… please help… rescuers and food has (sic) yet to arrive,” she said.

Posting an aerial view of Dabong – one of the worst affected areas in the east coast state – which is inundated by muddy flood waters, Aida Zakaria said she had lost contact with the husband who had been there for the past four days.

“I heard he is currently at a shelter above a hill. Please send immediate help. There is no latest information coming out from Dabong,” she said.

Improverished Kelantan is one of the worst hit states, with more than 32,000 people evacuated since two days ago. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has cut short his US holiday and is due to arrive in Kota Baru today to oversee the flood relief operations.

Close to 120,000 people have been evacuated in Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Kedah and Perlis since the floods started earlier this week. – December 27, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 27 December 2014, 11:15 am and is filed under
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Rescuers struggle to reach flood victims as anger mounts

The Malaysian Insider

27 December 2014

Rescue teams struggled to reach inundated areas of northeast Malaysia as victims accused the government of being slow to provide assistance after the country’s worst flooding in decades.

Malaysians have vented their anger at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after the release of photos which went viral on social media showing him playing golf with US President Barack Obama during the storms.

The number of people forced to flee their homes climbed past 120,000 with weather forecasters warning of no respite for the northeastern states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

The under-fire-Najib was expected to arrive in Kelantan Saturday to lead the national flood response after cutting short his vacation in Hawaii, his aide Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad told AFP.

The government has allocated about almost RM50 million to manage relief centres.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin admitted rescuers were facing challenges with power outages and roads being washed away by the floods.

“I admit the situation is challenging to the rescue workers and we are trying our best to make sure that the food arrives to the victims depending on the flood situation,” he was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.

Military helicopters and trucks were seen in the Kota Baru area, which is near the border with southern Thailand, but rescue efforts were being hampered by fast rising waters and strong currents while roads to hard-hit areas were impassable.

“The severity and scale of the floods had taken the authorities completely by surprise as it was worse than anticipated, overwhelming all disaster management plans and preparations,” Lim Kit Siang, veteran opposition MP with the DAP said in a statement today.

‘I have lost everything’

Kelantan, one of the worst-affected areas, is led by the opposition party, PAS, and is one of the poorest states in the country.

From the air, parts of the state capital Kota Baru resembled a vast, muddy lake, with row after row of rooftops peeking out of the murky waters.

Tempers were frayed among people sheltering at a crowded relief centre just outside Kota Baru, with fears the situation would worsen as it continued to rain in surrounding areas.

“I am angry with them (the government). We don’t care about their politics. We just want the government to do what they should do and help us,” 23-year-old Farhana Suhada, who works for a courier service, told AFP.

Holding on tightly to her six-month-old baby, she said: “For breakfast I had three biscuits and tea. There’s not enough water and no food at all for my baby. I had to buy my own milk,” she said.

Suhada was forced to abandon her home four days ago after flood waters rose quickly almost to neck level.

“I have lost everything, including huge damage to my house and my car and motorcycle,” said Suhada, who was among 200 people seeking refuge in a two-storey school.

Many flood victims were seen lying on the floor while children ran around.

Nur Fatin Nurnabilah, 13, said it was her first experience of floods and she was afraid for her family’s future.

“I am scared and I miss my home,” she said. I am scared because I can’t swim. And we lost everything we had.” – AFP, December 27, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 27 December 2014, 1:48 pm and is filed under
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Show compassion, not self-righteousness

 – Syerleena Abdul Rashid

The Malaysian Insider

27 December 2014

The recent flash floods in Malaysia have badly affected four states – Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Perak. Other states such as Negri Sembilan, Perlis, Kedah and Johor have also reported flooding in various areas.

The number of evacuees now stands at more than 130,000 (as of December 27) and is expected to rise in the next few days.

Many describe this year’s flood disaster as the worst in Malaysian history with several elected leaders pressuring the government to declare a state of emergency. The general well-being of the Malaysian public is under threat and government intervention is needed to minimise or prevent such calamity from escalating further.

The average rainfall for Malaysia is approximately 2,500mm a year, according to the Malaysian Meteorology Department. This alone indicates that Malaysia receives one of the heaviest rainfalls in the world, but drastic climate changes and unpredictable weather patterns only worsen the impact of natural disasters.

Although flooding in Malaysia is a relatively common occurrence, such disasters has severe consequences on individuals and communities. Studies also indicate that natural disasters have increased both in intensity and frequency, in recent times.

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (under the UNEP) reported that between the years 1995 to 2005, natural disasters caused by extreme climate change has affected 2.5 billion people and attributed to approximately US$690 billion (RM2.35 trillion) in economic losses.

According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reductions (UNISDR) in 2012, floods were reported to be one of the most frequent natural disasters and have affected approximately 64.5 million people in the region with damages amounting to US$15.1 billion (RM51.34 billion).

Worldwide, the economic damages incurred reach a staggering US$44.6 billion (RM151.64 billion).

Damage to infrastructure such as hospitals, roads, bridges, rail networks, power generators/plants and phone lines will also affect a significant proportion of the population; sometimes more so than those directly affected.

These damages also cause long-term negative impacts such as lack of clean water supplies, waste water treatment, disruption of electricity, health care and education, leaving communities extremely vulnerable.

Other impacts of flooding include destruction of crops and loss of livestock. Several key industries such as fishing and agriculture will be affected through excessive rain damage, water logged soils, damage to fish farms and equipment loss, all of which could result in a drastic increase of food prices due to a momentary shortage of supplies.

Needless to say, the psychological and health impact on flood survivors can often be traumatising. The loss of loved ones and the distress caused by going through such catastrophes first hand, especially for children, will take a long time to heal.

As for survivors of flooding, the risk of contact with polluted water can bring about serious health issues such as dermatitis, ear, nose and throat infections, possible serious waterborne diseases such as vector borne diseases and other possible diseases caused by rodents, leading to casualties if left untreated.

The aftermath of such occurrences also have other worrying effects such as possible injuries or electrocutions during post-flood clean-up, disruption to health services due to insufficient access and insufficient disaster relief aid due to shortage of supplies or manpower.

People are aware of the damaging effects of floods and other natural disasters on society and the economy. In the past few days, Malaysians from all walks of life have shown fortitude, empathy and solidarity towards those affected by such tragedies.

Unfortunately, Pasir Mas MP Nik Mohamad Abduh has displayed extreme tactlessness and apathy towards those who are in need of aid and rescue, by using the disaster as an excuse to bulldoze hudud.

“The flood is a reminder to all Muslims to return to Allah’s ways and stay away from His wrath. It necessitates the perseverance of the Kelantan government to implement hudud laws” is a statement Malaysians can do without. Such callousness exhibits an acute lack of compassion and is unbecoming of an elected leader.

Great leaders show compassion especially in dire times. Leaders are expected to put the needs of others before their own and must lead by example.

Present-day Malaysian society has begun to re-examine how we see our leaders. We want those who exhibit compassion, not arrogance, because positive characteristics will fare better in handling crisis in Malaysia’s ever changing economic and social climate.

There is a saying in Islam, “God does not judge you according to your bodies and appearances, but He looks into your hearts and observes your deeds”.

Malaysians should put aside all of our differences and ensure much needed help is received by those who need them the most. – December 27, 2014.

* Syerleena Abdul Rashid is secretary, Bukit Bendera DAP Youth, and political education director of Bukit Bendera DAP’s Wanita wing.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 27 December 2014, 7:44 pm and is filed under
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Flood evacuees now number over 160,000

– The Malaysian Insider/Bernama

27 December 2014

The floods took a turn for the worse in Kelantan by this afternoon, sending 81,925 people in all to relief centres, while the situation in Kedah continues to improve.

In Kelantan, 26,000 evacuees were recorded in Tumpat, making it the worst affected of the districts, followed by Kota Baru, with 24,034 evacuees.

Pasir Mas district also had a large number of evacuees, at 12,332. Kuala Krai had 5,200 evacuees; Gua Musang, 5,150; Machang, 4,039; Tanah Merah, 3,548; Jeli, 1,430 and Pasir Puteh, 192.

Kelantan Welfare Department director Nik Omar Nik Abdul Rahman said all the evacuees, from 20,177 families, were being housed at 254 relief centres throughout the state.

A check by Bernama revealed that several stretches on the main road between Kota Baru and Pengkalan Chepa were flooded and only four-wheel-drive vehicles could pass through some of these.

The stretches affected include Jalan Sabak, Jalan Pengkalan Chepa and Jalan Tok Guru.

In Kedah, the situation continues to improve and the remaining 13 flood evacuees have been allowed to return to their homes. The only relief centre in the Bandar Baharu district was closed.

In Terengganu, it was a different story altogether. Up to 35,246 people from 6,750 families still remained at relief centres in the state.

Kemaman district still had the highest number of evacuees, at 25,055, followed by Dungun (8,725); Kuala Terengganu (1,247) and Hulu Terengganu (219).

All the evacuees are being housed at 99 relief centres, 50 of them in Kemaman; 35 in Dungun; nine in Kuala Terengganu and five in Hulu Terengganu.

In Pahang, the number of evacuees has risen to 35,564, with Raub being the latest district to be hit and having to accommodate 666 people in 17 relief centres.

According to the Pahang Police flood operations room, the eight other affected districts are Kuantan (with 15,072 evacuees); Jerantut (5,802); Temerloh (4,522); Maran (3,335); Pekan (3,128); Lipis (2,470); Bera (528) and Rompin (41).

In Perak, the number of evacuees has risen to 6,730 in the flood-hit districts of Kuala Kangsar, Perak Tengah, Hulu Perak and Kerian.

Perak Tengah is the district with the highest number of evacuees, at 3,311, followed by Kuala Kangsar (2,711); Hulu Perak (657) and Kerian (51), according to a spokesman of the Perak National Security Council (NSC).

In Johor, the State Disaster Operations Control Centre reported that the number of evacuees had dropped to 1,096, and they were housed at 14 relief centres.

In Perlis, 195 people still remain at three relief centres, namely the Seri Malau and Beseri Dalam community halls and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Abi, Kangar.

In Negri Sembilan, receding floodwaters have enabled several evacuees to return to their homes, leaving only 80 at relief centres compared to 331 in the morning.

In Selangor, it was reported that 85 people had to be moved to two relief centres in Klang after several areas in the district were flooded.

The affected areas are Jalan Datuk Abdul Hamid, Taman Sentosa; Kampung Budiman; Persiaran Hamzah Alang; Batu 5; Jalan Meru and Jalan Paip in Meru.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Mohd Sani Harul said more rain could worsen the floods in these places. – Bernama, December 27, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 28 December 2014, 5:40 am and is filed under
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Hulu Dungun folk left with just clothes on their back

By Malaysiakini/Bernama

Dec 27, 2014

About 3,000 flood victims from 20 villages in Hulu Dungun who are left with only their clothes on their backs desperately need help in terms of food and clothing as nearly 80 percent of the houses have been submerged in water.

Kampung Shukor development and security committee (JKKK) chairperson Jailina Abdullah said almost all her village folk were left with the clothes on their backs after the devastating flood struck their village last week.

“The flood this time is very bad. In some parts of the village, only the roofs of houses could be seen… we could not save any of our personal belongings as the water rose too quickly.

“Clothes, baby napkins, sanitary pads, and other necessities are desperately needed by the villagers, and we are forced to wear the same clothes every day … we don’t know whom to ask for help from as almost everyone in the village is facing the same plight,” she told Bernama today.

Jailina said it was difficult to send aid to her village as the main road leading to it collapsed last week due to sinking soil.

However, Jailina said her committee was thankful and appreciated the concern given to them by several agencies, including the Bukit Besi state assembly coordinator’s office, as well as the Terengganu Tengah Development Authority (Ketengah), and a few NGOs which had sent food supplies.

Sending additional supplies

Meanwhile, Bukit Besi state assemblyperson Roslee Daud said his office would continue to monitor and ensure that food supplies in relief centres were always sufficient.

“We have started to send additional food supplies to relief centres, more than 300 10kg-rice bags, 100 bottles of 5kg-cooking oil bottles, and several other kitchen supplies since Wednesday.

Roslee, who is also state rural development, entrepreneurship, cooperatives and consumerism committee chairperson, said the food items were distributed to all the relief centres in his constituency.

“The floods in Hulu Dungun this time are very bad and many villages are affected, so we are distributing this foodstuff as additional aid for the flood victims because we do not want them to be left without food supplies,” he said.

He said his office was also collaborating with government agencies such as the Malaysian Armed Forces, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department, and the police to send aid to the flood victims in the constituency.

– Bernama

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Plenty of smoking guns on illegal migrants in Sabah

By Simon Sipaun

Malaysiakini

Dec 27, 2014

COMMENT
 On page 267 of the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) report, it is stated that “Indeed, as far back as 1999, it was already reported in local newspapers in Sabah that it was a lucrative business being involved in fake ICs or genuine ICs illegally issued. There was much money to be made by syndicates or individuals or corrupt officials because a false IC could fetch between RM400 and RM500, and a Malaysian passport could cost up to RM50,000.”

Some people have claimed that a lot of activities associated with the illegal immigrants in Sabah represent an industry, and present opportunities and temptation for corruption. Corruption is a big problem in this country. It is also very costly.

 I also hear of illegal immigrants becoming victims of enforcement personnel. They become part of the problem rather than the solution. Their vulnerability is often taken advantage of. I have heard stories that very often, enforcement personnel, usually towards the end of the month, demand to inspect the purses of illegal immigrants and take away some or all their monies.

 Let me briefly make some comments on the RCI and its report. The RCI is the latest attempt by the federal government to show the public that it is doing something to resolve what is perceived to be a government-created problem for Sabah. Perception, being what it is, could be real or imagined.

But in the Sabah case, there are many signs of smoking guns. The problems associated with the illegal immigrants are often described as the mother of all problems.

 The unusually large population of foreigners, both legal and illegal, has permanently changed the economic, social, cultural, political and demographic landscape of the state. Many of them were initially illegal but became legal, rightly or wrongly.

 By my reckoning, there are in Sabah more foreigners than locals, who feel fearful and threatened. I have some indicators for this but time does not permit me to elaborate. This is not surprising because this issue has been in the making for more than 30 years.

 There appears to be lack of political will on the part of the government to resolve the problem once and for all. More and more Sabahans are convinced that this is a deliberate move or agenda for Sabah by the federal government.

Double standard?

 During the late 60s and early 70s, plenty of Vietnamese refugees landed in the peninsula. They were confined to Pulau Bidong, off the coast of Terengganu. Within two years, they were all deported to other countries. The government was very pro-active.

 At about the same time, illegal immigrants from the southern Philippines and Indonesia also started to come to Sabah. Unlike the Vietnamese, they are still in Sabah today. There appears to be double standard in the treatment between the non-Muslim Vietnamese and the mostly Muslim Filipinos and Indonesians.

 Malaysia is neither a state party to the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951, nor the 1967 Protocol. This being the case, all refugees are treated as illegal immigrants.

 All the moves, actions and pronouncements by government leaders have so far not produced the desired results. At one time the government declared an amnesty. It was extended several times so much so that the illegal immigrants did not take it seriously. No review was carried out to assess its effectiveness.

From time to time, you hear of some illegals being arrested and placed in the temporary detention centres. They have now become temporary on a permanent basis. Occasionally you hear of raids and deportations but the number of illegal immigrants appears to increase rather than decrease.

 There is no basis to blame the illegal immigrants for being in Sabah. As human beings, they are looking for a better life and opportunities. They have human rights, no more and no less than any Malaysian. Their human rights must be respected. Human rights have no borders.

 The question many genuine Sabahans ask is – why are or were they allowed to enter the state illegally and move around with impunity? It is believed that hundreds of thousands of them have been granted citizenship as well as the right to vote, in return for their support for the Umno-dominated BN government.

 Former chief minister Yong Teck Lee had to vacate his Likas state assembly seat because he won it in 1999 with the help of phantom voters. Justice Muhammad Kamil Awang said that the 1998 electoral roll for the constituency was illegal, and the election held in March 1999 was null and void. The judge, among others, stated that the evidence adduced represented the tip of an iceberg.

 The logical and correct move by the government would have been to rectify the tainted electoral roll. Instead, the Election Act was amended whereby once the electoral roll was gazetted, it cannot be challenged in any court of law. This is bad law and inconsistent with democratic principles.

 Why should a responsible government be unwilling to clean a tainted electoral roll if it has no sinister motive?

Flawed RCI report

 As the 13th general election was approaching, the government finally announced the establishment of the RCI on Feb 8, 2012, but without the terms of reference. I found this rather odd. It was like putting the horse before the cart.

 The terms of reference were announced much later. The eight terms of reference were all investigative and not corrective in nature. The RCI was not assigned the task of identifying the real people responsible for the problem and the action to be taken against them.

 Initially, the RCI was given six months to come up with the report. It had been the hope of many Sabahans that the report could be known before the general election. In the event, it was extended for another six months.

 The general election took place on May 5, 2013.

 The report was submitted to the Agong on May 14 this year. It was finally released in Kota Kinabalu on Dec 3 by the chief secretary to the government. As a civil servant, it was surprising for him to conclude that there is no political motive involved, despite all indications to the contrary. Even the RCI was silent on it. The chief secretary did not back his contention with hard evidence. One gets the impression that he was playing politics.

 The public expected the report to be tabled and debated in Parliament.

 Despite the reservations shown by many towards the RCI, the evidence adduced from the witnesses had endorsed what many Sabahans have suspected all along but denied by government leaders. What was disclosed by witnesses was not surprising. What is surprising is that the government appeared to be uncaring and insensitive to the welfare and interests of Malaysians in Sabah by placing the interests of foreigners over theirs.

 In short, the RCI has cleared the real culprits – the government and political parties – of any wrongdoing. Instead, the RCI pointed the finger at civil servants. This is very surprising. The main function and responsibilities of civil servants is to translate government decisions and policies into action. They operate under the principle of ‘I am your obedient servant’.

Even if they are doing wrong, either deliberately or inadvertently, surely they cannot escape from government notice and attention for over 30 years.

 Experience and events also indicate that the government was aware of what was happening. For example, the decision to establish the federal task force was made by the PM himself. I was present when the decision was made. I welcomed the move but I was disappointed that it took about one year just to create the post of the head of the task force. Yet the task force was supposed to resolve the issue once and for all.

 That is why I am convinced that the federal government is not serious in solving the problem. There is so much disconnect between declared intention and actual action. It has been said ‘a man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds’.

I believe the task force is still in existence but so is the problem, only bigger and more complex.

 In so far as the ‘Projek IC’ is concerned, the RCI concluded that it “probably existed” despite the availability of hard evidence to suggest that it definitely existed. The question of probability should not arise. The existence of ‘Projek IC’ is an open secret to the ordinary Sabahans.

Report not signed

 Right-minded Sabahans who were looking for relief and justice would be shocked and disgusted with the report. It is a very disappointing report, to say the least.

It looks odd that in the report the term ‘royal commission of inquiry’ appears, yet on the cover it is being referred to as report of  the ‘commission of enquiry’. The chairperson and the commissioners also did not sign the report. Other reports which I have seen are much more dignified.

 The RCI agreed with the proposal by the National Registration Department (NRD) workshop to establish a permanent secretariat supported by a management committee on foreigners. It is surprisingly a very short recommendation and not even original.

 Only time will tell whether or not this is the last of illegal problems in Sabah following the release of the RCI report and the implementation of its recommendations. In government circle, it is not unusual that when no one is brave enough to take tough decision involving strong political will, a committee would be formed.

 That committee, in turn, forms sub-committees. Responsibility is diluted. More often than not, it is taken over by the passage of time.

 I am reminded of the story of four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

 There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. It ended that Everybody blamed Somebody when actually Nobody asked Anybody.

 Finally, you may then ask – what should be done? The illegal immigration issue is a national problem. They should be equally distributed among all the 13 states. It is not fair that Sabah alone shoulder the burden.

Some suggestions

• Illegal entry into Sabah should immediately stop.

• Sabah identification cards should be issued to all genuine Sabahans. Only Sabahans with Sabah ICs should be allowed to vote.

• Names on the electoral rolls without the Sabah ICs should be taken out from the electoral rolls.

Foreigners who obtained ICs illegally should be deported but allowed to return with proper travel documentation if their services are needed.

 I realise this will be a massive exercise but it is necessary. A massive problem requires a massive solution. It is the government which made its bed, it must be prepared to lie on it. This is responsibility and accountability.

 If the federal government was pro-active right from the beginning by not allowing illegal entry into Sabah, we would not be saddled with this problem today. But it was allowed to happen and continue for more than 30 years. I will not be surprised if many of the illegal immigrants have moved to other parts of the country in search for better opportunities.

 Sabah is their entry point into Malaysia and to the rest of the world, courtesy of the federal government.

 SIMON SIPAUN is former state secretary of Sabah and former Suhakam commissioner. The above speech was given at the Bersih/Pacos forum on the RCI report in Kota Kinabalu on Dec 13.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 28 December 2014, 8:14 am and is filed under
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Flood victims top 200,000, K’tan worst hit

From Tweets on Kelantan Floods – 28.12.2014

1. Everything seems to be running out in Kota Bahru. Latest is helicopter fuel – resulting in several helicopters stranded at KB Heli hangar.

2. Helped in flood victim relief in Kota Bahru town. Visited Jln Gajah Mati and Jln Kubor Kuda area near riverfront. Shocking water chest-high.

3. Families in heart of town completely stranded become quite inaccessible, with speed of water current making roads quite treacherous rivers.

4. Wading through road-turned-river with treacherous currents unforgettable experience. Area visited full of shops restaurants hotels all shuttered.

5. Firefly could not fly all 101 cartons of supplies DAP Penang prepared for Kota Bahru – only transport 15 trolleys of 94 cartons of necessities. 16 cartons to go tonight.

6. Three Excos  ie Penang DAP Chairman Chow Kon Yeow, Lim Hock Seng, Phee Boon Poh, Penang  DAP Secretary  Lim Hui Ying, MP Kasthuri Patto were in first flood relief mission to Kota Bahru today.

7.Anthony Loke also led a flood relief mission with essential supplies to Gua Musang and  Kuala Krai. Just got call from Loke situation in Kuala Krai  bad.

8. Flood victims top 200,000, K’tan worst hit (Mkini) http://goo.gl/fRVPqU

                This entry was posted on Monday, 29 December 2014, 6:05 am and is filed under
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