Weather Worries Remain in Hunt for AirAsia Plane

B
y EILEEN NG and ROBIN McDOWELL Associated Press

ABC News

Jan 1, 2015

SURABAYA, Indonesia —

More ships arrived Friday with sensitive equipment to search for the fuselage of AirAsia Flight 8501 and the more than 150 people still missing since it crashed five days ago.

Rear Marshal Henry Bambang Soelistyo, head of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, said the search would be stepped up as long as the weather allowed.

“We will focus on underwater detection,” said Soelistyo, adding ships from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the U.S. had been on the scene from before dawn Friday to try to pinpoint the wreckage and the all-important black boxes? the flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

The Airbus A320 crashed into the Java Sea on Sunday with 162 people on board. Nine bodies have been recovered so far.

Nine planes, many with metal detectors, were also scouring a 13,500 square kilometer (8,380 square mile) area off Pangkalan Bun, the closest town on Borneo island to the search area. Two Japanese ships with three helicopters are on their way to the area, Soelistyo said.

But he said bad weather, which has hindered the search the last several days, was a worry, with forecasts of rain, strong winds and high waves up to 4 meters (13 feet) until Sunday. The strong sea currents have kept debris moving.

He estimated that the fuselage was at a depth of 25 to 30 meters (about 80 to 100 feet), and vowed to recover the bodies of “our brothers and sisters … whatever the conditions we face.”

So far, one victim of the crash has been identified and was returned to her family Thursday, one of many painful reunions to come.

Hayati Lutfiah Hamid’s identity was confirmed by fingerprints and other means, said Col. Budiyono of East Java’s Disaster Victim Identification Unit.

Her body, in a dark casket topped with flowers, was handed over to family members during a brief ceremony at a police hospital in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city where the plane took off. A relative cried as she placed both hands against the polished wood.

The coffin was then taken to a village and lowered into a muddy grave, following Muslim obligations requiring bodies to be buried quickly. An imam said a simple prayer as about 150 people gathered in the drizzling rain, and red flowers were sprinkled over the mound of wet dirt topped by a small white tombstone.

The longer the search takes, the more corpses will decompose and debris scatter.

Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas in Australia said there’s a good chance the plane hit the water largely intact, and that many passengers remain inside it.

He added that bodies recovered so far would have come out with a breach in the fuselage. “But most passengers still should have had their seat belts on, particularly as the plane was going into weather. The captain would have still had the seat belt sign on.”

It is unclear what brought the plane down about halfway into its two-hour flight to Singapore. The jet’s last communication indicated the pilots were worried about bad weather. They sought permission to climb above threatening clouds but were denied because of heavy air traffic. Four minutes later, the airliner disappeared from the radar without issuing a distress signal.

The black boxes hold data that will help investigators determine the cause of the crash but have yet to be recovered. Items found so far include a life jacket, an emergency exit door, an inflatable slide, children’s shoes, a blue suitcase and backpacks filled with food.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 2 January 2015, 9:54 am and is filed under
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Writing to Najib on three proposals: Defer GST, Double up RM500 million to RM1 billion allocation with interest-free loans to all victims to re-start business and declare state of emergency to deal worsening floods in Pahang and to enable flood victims to start life anew

Yesterday DAP sent multiple flood relief teams to flood-stricken areas in Kelantan and Pahang, comprising:

(i)	Three containers of essential supplies to flood victims, two from Penang and one from Johore for Kuala Krai as part of the “Save Kuala Krai Convoy Mission”.

(ii)	Some 250 “great Malaysian sons and daughters” from Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan and Johor  who took part in the multiple flood relief mission of New Year’s Day 2015, comprising:

(a)	over 20 FWDs from Penang (flagged off by Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng in Penang on New Year’s Day at 1.30 a.m.) driving 15 hours from Penang to Kuala Krai ferrying over 2,000 cartons of essential supplies from two containers and over 20 FWDs.

(b)	Over 20 FWDs of supplies from Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan  to Kuala Krai (this is the third relief mission to Kuala Krai led DAP National Organising Secretary Anthony Loke in  five days).

(c)	Three containers (one for Kuala Krai, one for Kota Bharu and another for Mentakab) together with 11 FWDs of emergency supplies from Johor DAP, led by 2MPs and 7 SAs.

My visit to Kuala Krai yesterday, accompanied by the Kuala Krai MP Dr. Mohamed Hatta Ramli,  is my second visit to Kelantan in five days to provide help and support to flood victims of the worst floods in decades.

Following my observations from two visits, the first one on Dec. 28 to Kota Bahru when the Kelantan capital was under water, I am writing to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak making three specific proposals. They are:

Firstly, defer the GST. The catastrophic flood disaster had undermined the confidence of businesses. Many, not only in the flood-stricken areas, are already talking of winding up business operations when faced with the burden of  additional expenses, responsibilities and work with the looming implementation of GST next April 1, especially when their children are outstation or overseas and have no intention to continue their parents’ business.

The catrastrophic flood disaster is a second cruel blow, where almost every person in Kuala Krai became a flood victim – registered or unregistered – giving additional reasons for  businesses to wind up.

For this reason, the Prime Minister should defer indefinitely the implementation of GST on April 1 as this will only add to the hardships and sufferings of the flood victims, which number over  a million people as not all flood victims are housed at the various floods relief centres.

Secondly, double the RM500 million flood relief allocation to RM1 billion, including providing  interest-free loans to every flood victim to allow business and ordinary life to start anew immediately, in the shortest possible of time.

Every flood victim whose business, whether from hawker stalls to shop business, should be entitled to interest free loan, ranging from RM1,000 to RM250,000 to restart business.

Thirdly, declare state of emergency arising from the severity, scale and scope of the floods catastrophe, not only to deal with the worsening floods situation  in Pahang but also  to help flood victims in all flood-stricken states to start life anew in the shortest possible time.

The reason given by Najib that  a declaration of state of emergency would absolve insurance companies from paying insurance claims has proven to be a dud excuse, as the insurance regulator, the General Insurance Assocation of Malaysia (PIAM) has confirmed that insurance companies will not be absolved of liability in paying out compensation for flood claims even if a state of emergency had been declared.

A state of emergency arising from natural disaster is not to invoke martial law, nor does it mean the imposition of curfew, and most serious of all, it will not usher in “permanent  emergency” as happened previouisly, like the four Proclamations of Emergency from Indonesian Confrontation 1965, Sarawak Political Crisis in 1967, May 13 riots in 1969 and  the Kelantan Political Crisis in 1977 which existed for decades before they were annulled two years ago.

This is because a state of emergency arising from a floods catastrophe will lapse automatically once the natural disaster is over, and flood victims can start their life anew.

In a state of emergency, the military could be mobilized not only to help the police to maintain security, but also help the flood victims to start a new life in the shortest possible time, as in building temporary housing shelter to the flood victims who have been rendered homeless by the floods.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 2 January 2015, 11:17 am and is filed under
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Call on Najib to declare state of emergency to mobilise  the 150,000-strong armed forces to deal with worsening flood situation in some states and humongous post-flood challenges in others

It is still not too late for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak to declare a state of emergency in the flood-stricken states.

A state of emergency in the flood-stricken states will make it easier and faster to mobilise all federal, state and local resources to deal firstly, with the worst flood disaster in recent decades (for some states, the flood situation could worsen in coming days); and secondly, the post-flood situation in states where although  the worst flood situation are over with the receding of flood waters, new problems are beginning with the  humongous and  mind-blogging scale and scope of the post-flood challenges and dangers.

The Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yaakob has said that Kelantan will need at least six months to fully recover from the devastation of the worst floods that hit the state in the past few weeks.

Six months to recover from the devastation of the floods catastrophe is too long and will impose great problems and grave burdens on the flood victims in Kelantan.

Whether for Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak or any state for that matter, the period for the full recovery from the devastation of the floods catastrophe should be cut down from “at least six months” to two months, and this is why a state of emergency for the flood-stricken states should declared, to deal firstly with the floods disaster management, mitigation and relief during the floods catastrophe, and secondly, the post-flood challenges and dangers.

In fact, a state of emergency should be a normal part of the Standard Operating Procedure to deal with a  major floods disaster.

The Prime Minister was clearly misled when he said that a state of emergency could not be declared because it would absolve the insurance companies from having to pay compensation to the insured, which had been debunked by the insurance regulator, the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (Piam).

The Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was also wrong when he said that there was no need to declare a state of emergency unless there was a critical situation, 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.

Muhyiddin seemed not to know that for thousands of the flood victims, electricity and water supply were completely cut off for more than a week.  Is this not an emergency?

Is Muhyiddin saying that before an emergency situation could arise, electricity and water supply should be completely cut off for the whole country and that hundreds of thousands of people should be made homeless as a quarter of a million people are still not sufficient?

If so, these are the most cock-eyed arguments ever presented by a Deputy Prime Minister in Malaysia.

It is most shocking and outrageous that both the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister do not seem to have a clue as to what is needed for the declaration of a state of emergency in the event of a natural or even man-made disaster which has nothing to do with a political crisis.

There should be a total revamp of the mindset and mentality about Floods Disaster Management Plans and Preparedness, where declaration of a state of emergency  for flood-stricken states or regions will be an integral part of the Standard Operating Procedure.

I can understand why Malaysians as a whole are quite reluctant to support declaration of state of emergency, for their experience is for the state of emergencies to be permanent and misused to serve the interests of the Executive, such as  the Emergencies arising from Indonesian Confrontation in 1965, the Sarawak Political Crisis in 1967, the May 13 Riots in 1969 and the Kelantan Political Crisis in 1977.

A state of emergency arising from a floods catastrophe will be limited both in place and time – confined only to the flood-stricken areas and lapsed as soon as the floods catastrophe and the post-flood challenges and dangers are dealt with.

I would urge the Prime Minister to ask the Cabinet on Wednesday to endorse the declaration of a state of emergency in the flood-stricken states, which will enable the mobilization of the 150,000-strong armed services personnel (land, air and sea) to deal with worsening flood situation in some states and to tackle the post-flood situation in states where the flood waters have receded.

One of the biggest post-flood challenges  is to shorten the time needed for the people to recover from the devastation of the floods – for instance, slash the period from “at least six months” to two months.

The armed forces can be mobilized to help the police in looking after security, assist the flood victims who have become homeless to build temporary housing and ensure that there is no outbreak of diseases by helping to clean up the flood-stricken areas.

If the military forces in other countries can render such national services in times of national disasters, there is no reason why this cannot be done in Malaysia.

The Federal government must use all its resources to help the flood victims to start their lives and business anew.

This is why there should be a doubling of the RM500 million flood relief allocation announced by Najib to RM1 billion, so that there could be   interest-free loans to every flood victim to allow business and ordinary life to start anew immediately, in the shortest possible time.

Every flood victim whose business, whether from hawker stalls to shop business, had been wiped out by the floods catastrophe, should be entitled to interest free loan, ranging from RM1,000 to RM250,000 to restart business.

The Cabinet on Wednesday should take bold and decisive measures on the declaration of a state of emergency in the flood-stricken states as well as approve the doubling of the RM500 million flood relief allocation RM1 billion to enable interest-free loans to be given to everyone whose livelihood had been wiped out by the flood catastrophe.

(Media Conference  Statement in Mentakab on Saturday, 3rd January 2015 at  10 am when visiting the flood-stricken areas in Mentakab and Temerloh together with DAP Acting National Chairman Tan Kok Wai, DAP Selangor State Assemblyman for Balakong Ng Tien Chee and DAP Pahang State Assemblyman for Mentakab, Tengku Zulpuri Shah b. Raja Puji )

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 3 January 2015, 7:19 pm and is filed under
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As taps stay dry, Kuala Krai struggles to rebuild after flood

By Zurairi AR

The Malay Mail Online

January 4, 2015

KUALA KRAI, Jan 4 — The sun has risen over Kuala Krai, but the Kelantan town 64 km south of Kota Baru has yet to stir from the worst flood in recent history last week.

The waters have receded but the 20,000 or so people who live there are struggling to pick up their lives without running water to wash away the mud that has invaded their homes and shops.

The main road through the town,usually busy with traffic between Gua Musang and Kota Baru, remains quiet. Most shops are closed and the few that are open are still being cleaned.

Until water supply is restored life appears to have paused for most of the town folk..

“I have no idea when I can even start cleaning up. I really cannot do a single thing until the water supply returns,” Alias a 26 year old told Malay Mail Online.

His family’s grocery store, Kedai Runcit BSM remains shut.

As of yesterday, Alias was one of the 5,646 people displaced by the rising waters. Returning after almost a week he found all the goods inside the store had perished and thick mud covering the floor.

Across the street the shutters are down on his mother’s restaurant, Selera Guchil.

“I’m afraid if I open them, I would drown under all the mud,” he said.

A little up the street a family has set up camp outside their shop. Sitting on straw mats, two men and a woman eat rice packed in brown papers, donated by flood relief volunteers.

With no electricity, the family said they chose to sit outside as it was cooler, and since their visibility from the main street meant that it was easier for volunteers driving by to spot them for donations of essential goods.

“We were given these. We eat using these. We wash ourselves using these,” said the woman, pointing to two cardboard boxes filled with empty drinking water plastic bottles.

“It is only rainwater that God has not yet given us,” she added, referring to the past few days, before washing her hands with water from a bottle.

Clamour for running water

Not everybody has been content to sit and wait. A few doors down the road, a man called Zulkifli has started cleaning soiled goods right outside his 20-year-old shop, which sells automotive batteries and vehicle number plates.

“I bought some water from somebody who stopped by. I got these for RM10,” the 48-year-old said, pointing to three water containers, each holding 10 gallons.

Two of his staff painstakingly clean the plastic numerals he uses for number plates. With a nod to the lone volunteer who arrives to help, the shop owner says the man is a member of the Selangor royal house.

As at January 3, only 65 per cent of water supplier Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd’s (AKSB) treatment plants were fully operational and repairs at 13 out of 43 plants are expected to continue for ats at least 10 more days, according to the Kelantan flood disaster special committee.

Some areas have been worse hit than others, such as Machang in which no single area has water supply, and Kuala Krai itself, with only 19 per cent of the areas getting water.

“We didn’t get any water even days before the floods hit,” an ethnic Chinese man known as Owi, 43, the owner of an automotive spare parts shop called BH Auto Supply Sdn Bhd claimed.

Everyday one of his workers ferries water from about 28 km away, on a pickup truck with tank, every day.

“We use the water for cooking, cleaning ourselves. To clean the spare parts, we just use recycled water, rain water,” he explained, pointing to his workers who were cleaning expensive metal parts such as engine cylinders and driveshafts.

Grit and heart

Kelvin Leong, 28, who managed a diesel engine workshop downtown called Kuala Krai Motorworks, said most of the business owners on his street had decided to quit as they could not cope with the losses.

“A lot of them just want to retire. They are already old,” said Leong, citing a closed bakery across the road from his corner-lot workshop.

“I think to restart my business, I will have to wait at least around another half a year … My father had worked hard for 35 years, and we lost all that just in one night,” added Leong, who inherited the business from his father and had worked there for 14 years.

Giving a tour of his workshop, Leong joked that the price of one of his machineries alone was equal to one Honda Accord sedan car. The price of the car starts from RM135,000 in Malaysia.

Leong, the second son of the family, said he had to wait for engineers to come by and inspect the machineries before he could even use them, due to possible water damage.

While two of his teenage apprentices were cleaning soiled engine parts strewn outside the store — “the hearts that drive diesel vehicles,” as Leong called them — his sister returned with a tank of water on her pickup truck.

She had just driven around 8 km to get water from their friend’s factory in Batu Jong which had its own underground water supply, Leong said.

“I still want to fight. Them old men can retire if they want, but I am still young,” Leong boldly claimed, explaining that his family might have to take a bank loan to salvage the business.

Like Leong, most of business owners polled by Malay Mail Online were resolute and eager to get back to work, knowing that prolonged lulls meant bigger losses.

But for now, they were slowly rebuilding their lives — washing the mud away plate number by plate number, driveshaft by driveshaft — with what water they could find.

The red prayer altar on the floor in Owi’s shop was covered by mud but he’s determined to continue praying for a better tomorrow.

“God is up there,” he said laughing, pointing to the heavens.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 4 January 2015, 11:00 am and is filed under
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Asking for urgent meeting with Najib before Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to present four-point proposal on the floods catastrophe for Cabinet adoption

I am seeking an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, before Wednesday with a four-point proposal for adoption by the Cabinet with regard to the floods catastrophe which had ravaged nine states in the past two weeks.

It would appear that the Cabinet had not met since Dec. 17, as the two  previous Wednedays had fallen on Christmas eve on Dec. 24 and New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31.

Although both these dates are not public holidays in Malaysia, it is the tradition that the Cabinet would not meet on these two dates as most Ministers would be overseas on vacations.

I believe that the Cabinet had also not met on Dec. 24 and 31 last year, as there had been no reports about Cabinet meetings on these two dates, which would be most unusual and extraordinary, as the country’s worst floods in decades had spanned both these dates.

However, I confess I am not privy to information as to whether the Cabinet had met on Dec. 24 and 31, and I am prepared to stand corrected if I am proved wrong.

If I am right that the Cabinet had not met since Dec. 17, then this is a gross remiss of public duties and responsibilities by the entire Cabinet and Najib owes the country a full and satisfactory explanation for the Cabinet playing truant when the country was faced with an unprecedented floods catastrophe, which caused the evacuation of a quarter of a million people, with over a million in nine states adversely affected by the floods catastrophe and the death of at least 21 people.

Although the worst of the second wave of the floods catastrophe seemed to be over, the Meteorological Department has warned of a a third wave of a moonsoon surge to begin on Jan 7 or 8, with possible continuous heavy rainfall up to three days over cerrtain states, especially in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

The National Security Council, and in particular, the Federal Government, should not be caught off-guard as happened in the second wave of the floods catastrophe in the past fortnight.

The four-point proposals concern:

# the declaration of a state of emergency for the flood-stricken states;

# the formation of a BN-PR Joint Action Council on Floods Catastrophe;

# Convening of a Special Parliament this month on the Floods Catastrophe;’

# Doubling of the RM500 million allocation for relief of flood victims to RM1 billion to enable every flood victim whose livelihood/business had been wiped out by the floods catastrophe to apply for interest free loans, ranging from RM1,000 to RM250,l000 to start life and business anew.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 4 January 2015, 5:08 pm and is filed under
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Finding hope for Malaysia in 2015

By Bridget Welsh

Malaysiakini

Jan 1, 2015

COMMENT
 Difficult is an understatement for the year Malaysia had in 2014. Today marks a new beginning, an opportunity for assessment and moving forward.

With so many Malaysians suffering from bouts of despair with the national leadership on both sides of the political divide, I wanted to take an opportunity to share some positive observations on the present situation and the country’s future.

Despite all the challenges the country faces, it is vital not to be blinded by negativity. Doing so will let the dark forces that have been fanned since 2013 win. Malaysians deserve better – a hope for change and the promise of better governance.

While acknowledging the devastating tragedies of last year as well as the deterioration in race relations and the woefully inadequate performance of political leaders, I highlight here developments and lessons that are strengthening, and can further strengthen, Malaysia.

Caring Malaysia

There were important bright spots in 2014 that should be recognised. On multiple occasions Malaysians came together across faiths in their shared humanity.

Malaysians are a generous people in giving and empathetic with others. Malaysians regularly stop when a person is in trouble, and this is often in spite of real concerns over crime. They also open their purse strings when there is need, as we are seeing with the bounty of contributions to those suffering from the flooding.

There is a deep sense of community that even in the face of adversity binds Malaysians together. Outreach across faiths and genuine caring for others’ well-being was more evident in practice than the politicised racial vitriol. This was most obvious during the airline disasters and flooding emergency, but illustrated elsewhere as well.

Recall the outrage over the attempted closing of the homeless shelters in Kuala Lumpur, or the multiple incidents where the country’s Twitter network reached out to help find a missing loved one. When it matters, Malaysians come together for one another.

No longer silent majority

2014 was also the year the silent majority found its voice. It is speaking in a noisy room, but there nevertheless. After almost two years of dangerous extremist language, growing irrational anger, and often sheer stupidity, more are coming out to advocate the views of those of the largely silent majority.

Much has been made of the Eminent 25, an important group of the Malay elite. They are not alone. Pharmacist Syed Azmi Alhabshi, whose well-meaning ‘Touch a Dog’ programme to promote understanding across faiths, was appreciated (as testimony of the crowd) and the abuse and threats he faced for doing so were not well-received.

There is also strong public support for much-needed checks on the abuses of the unaccountable religious authorities who continue to think they are the ‘chosen’ ones to persecute innocent people like the Borders bookseller. There is similarly broad disdain for confiscation of other faiths’ holy texts, their desecration and endorsement of the urging to ‘burn’ religious texts – a shameful disgrace for any human being, least of all supposed leaders.

This is just not right, and ordinary Malaysians acknowledge it, even if the political environment is such that it is hard to say so in public without facing a battery of attacks. From the excessive cancerous corruption to everyday criminality, Malaysians are concerned and speaking out against these problems.

This is not new. Voting patterns since 1999 show that citizens want a fairer and better government, one that respects and listens to them. This is not going away, even if the Election Commission is acting in a non-transparent manner to further manipulate the electoral system by offering greedy political parties new seats.

Lessons from disasters

The list of problems the country – any country for that matter – faces is always long. What matters is how the leadership responds to it – the solutions.

Sadly, Malaysian political leaders are increasingly not meeting public expectations. The opposition has failed miserably to work together as a viable political alternative last year, and remains on the brink of division.

The premier has faced a growing rebellion in his own party. If Umno’s party elections were held today, it is unlikely that he would win the presidency.

Najib Razak has often been the ‘absentee PM’, prioritising a photo-op for a meeting on a trade deal that is effectively dead over the suffering of his people in one most serious national emergencies the country has faced since independence – an event that has not even yet been declared an emergency.

The ineffective actions of state governments, particularly Kelantan, whose menteri besar was briefly trapped in his own house instead of helping and leading rescue efforts, were equally disheartening. Now however is the time to look ahead.

The key is to learn the lessons from these disasters. Whether it is with regard to missing airplanes or flooding, these problems can be better addressed through pro-active, early measures.

This year offers Malaysia opportunities to lead in these areas – to use Asean as a forum to enhance regional airline security, to form a domestic and international task force for flood prevention and relief.

Lessons can be taken from steps adopted in Jakarta and elsewhere. These measures can range from simple more environmentally aware waste management and better effective storm warning systems, to harder but as essential toughening on corruption and illegal logging.

With crisis there is opportunity, and 2015 is a year for finding the silver lining and assuring that more lives are saved in pro-active action rather than reaction.

A time for healing

Part of the solution lies with bringing in more independent expertise. It is said knowledge is power, and we learned over the last year that learning can lead to better responses to crises. An example is the response to airline tragedies.

One reason for this is that more technocratic knowledge was brought into the assessments. It is essential to have people who understand not only the problems Malaysia faces, but to include those who can offer solutions.

Technocrats can offer more insights. The Najib mode has been to throw money at problems, but this is not enough. More needs to be done to look at the underlying causes and options ahead. This extends from flooding to development challenges. Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) is clearly not enough to address the needs of poorer Malaysians.

Part of the change towards knowledge involves changing mindsets. Good government is not about a photo-opportunity on a golf course or standing on the back of a garbage truck. It involves cooperation and compromise, which have been largely absent in much of last year’s political life.

This new year is a time for healing. These are not easy to do, especially in Malaysia’s diverse and politically fragmented society. They take courage.

The year ahead will indeed show whether Kelantan’s ulama leaders recognise that they do not have the skills to be in charge of this devastated state and make way to more capable leadership. The year ahead will also reveal whether those not engaged in dialogue will start talking to one another and moving past differences.

The year ahead will see whether politicians put aside politicking for the people. Many do not have faith in any of these developments, and frankly I too am not optimistic on the political front.

Where my hope lies is with the reality of greater pressure on leaders to buck up, to live up to expectations and importantly in the inherent caring character and spirit of the majority of Malaysians who have a clear sense of priorities – the needs and well-being of their fellow human beings.

With my faith in the wisdom of ordinary people, I remain hopeful in the prospects and possibilities of the new year.

BRIDGET WELSH is a Senior Research Associate at the Center for East Asia Democratic Studies of National Taiwan University and can be reached at
[email protected]
.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 4 January 2015, 8:24 am and is filed under
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Floods subside, yet hudud nightmare still haunts

By P Ramasamy

Malaysiakini

Jan 3, 2015

ADUN SPEAKS
 On Monday Dec 29, 2014, the PAS government in Kelantan had wanted to introduce amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code 1993 – or in other words, pave the way for the introduction of hudud law.

Following this, there would be a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament to be passed before the hudud law is enforced by both the federal and state agencies. PAS hopes that its 21 MPs and other Malay Muslim MPs will vote for this bill to become law. All that is required is a simple majority of 112 members’ support in Parliament.

PAS’ proposal to the introduction of the amendments in the Kelantan state assembly has created serious issues within the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. DAP has vehemently opposed hudud, and has threatened that its introduction would spell the end of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

PKR, while not wanting to oppose hudud on religious grounds, had maintained that hudud is not part of the common framework of understanding between the three parties within the opposition coalition.

Umno – by enticing PAS to proceed with the Private Member’s Bill in Parliament – might succeed in the splitting the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, its formidable political opponent. Whether Umno members will support the bill in Parliament is not certain, but it certainly raises questions about the role of Islam in Malaysia and its effects on the multi-racial population.

PAS is pushing for the implementation of hudud because it is an Islamic political party and it has made promises to the electorate during successive elections. But beyond this, the move to push hudud must be seen from a broad political, social and economic context.

PAS – despite its past popularity as an Islamic party, especially in the east coast states – has systematically failed to deliver social and economic goods to its population, especially in a state like Kelantan, its home base.

Although PAS has a long presence as a dominant political force in Kelantan, it has not really brought major investments to create development and employment in the state. In the past, thousands of Kelantanese have to migrate to other states in the peninsula or even to Singapore, in search for better economic opportunities.

PAS’ poor record in Kelantan

Beyond the usual Islamic rhetoric, PAS has a very poor record in managing the Kelantan administration. Thousands of acres of virgin forests have been cleared for rubber and oil palm plantations with disastrous consequences for the environment.

It does not come as a surprise that the floods in recent days have hit Kelantan severely. Unmanaged deforestation can, to a large extent, explain the severity of the flood situation in the state.

But alas, PAS leaders drowned in religious knowledge are unable, or even unwilling, to take up responsibilities that might be termed as un-Islamic. In many ways, the argument in favour of hudud and the lack of political and social space to debate the matter, has allowed PAS a free hand to pursue the matter, irrespective of its implications to its friends in Pakatan Rakyat and the Malaysian population.

PAS might think of hudud as its fundamental weapon to weaken Umno and the infidels, but then most religious obscurantists often fail to learn valuable lessons from history.

There is a remote possibility that PAS might be able to introduce the amendments on Monday, and there is even a possibility that the Private Member’s Bill might be passed in Parliament. By this time, PAS would have to assume the major responsibility for destroying Pakatan Rakyat, a political alternative that was formed after decades of political independence.

On a more ominous note, the success of hudud might be a pyrrhic victory for PAS, but then who will the main beneficiary of this political debacle? Will this be Umno and BN?

It is not too late for PAS to re-think the question of hudud, especially at this critical time when thousands of Malay Muslims are suffering from the ravages of floods. While religion is important in moderating the excesses of material development and for people to have faith in their life, economic and development opportunities are also important.

Right now, floods have hit Malay Muslims severely in the east coast states of the peninsula, and those affected need shelter, food and water. Let us not dwell too much on technical and political arrangements, let us focus on the dire needs of human beings.

P RAMASAMY is Perai assemblyperson and Penang deputy chief minister II.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 4 January 2015, 8:03 am and is filed under
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How to trigger a Malay renaissance

By Hafidz Baharom

Malaysiakini

Jan 1, 2015

COMMENT
It is clearly numbing that we have certain parties thinking that getting 20,000 Malays at a singular event somehow will give birth to a renaissance period here in Malaysia. I will say this openly, that will not be a renaissance. It would just be a pathetic flash mob entitled, ‘I talk, you all listen’.

In the last week, the Malay Consultative Council or Majlis Perundingan Melayu (MPM) decided that there was a need to re-establish Malay dominance in the country through a renaissance.

Of course, they brought up the same old so-called threats – lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBTs), liberalism, secularism and the usual suspects – threatening the Malaysian way of life.

For those who may not know this, the MPM is made up of a huge list of Malay NGOs, including the Malay Chambers of Commerce (DPMM), my alma mater alumni organisation Alumni UiTM, Cuepacs, the Malay College Old Boys Association (MCOBA) and even the Malaysian Malay Contractors Association.

Though personally, it makes no sense to me how alumni associations involving schools, universities and even Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSMs) could even think of backing this movement in the first place.

Firstly, for all the lawyers out there; if an organisation says they were appointed by the Prime Minister’s Office but have no letter nor official documentation to prove it, would that be a case of fraud or false representation?

And secondly, would all parties involved in the council that made that statement be liable for legal action under the Penal Code?

I ask this because honestly, if you think coming up with a statement claiming you have the Prime Minister’s backing to somehow be “ambassadors to a talk”, you should at least have the credentials before speaking.

Now then, how do you trigger a renaissance?

If we look at the European age of enlightenment, it had everything to do with the increase in curiosity in the facets of cultural, philosophical and scientific knowledge.

If we look at China, there was not exactly a renaissance, but a social experiment through the liberalising of their market and economy at certain stages.

If we look at the United States, it was the establishment of technological hubs by inventors daring to dream and chase innovation whilst combining forces with the financial technical know-how of venture capitalists. In other words, the innovative thinking of Western America meets the conservative and acute financial acumen of their East Coast.

Please note that in all three cases, race and religion had nothing to do with it.

And also note, that in any of these cases, either with Galileo or Steve Jobs (left) or even Deng Xiaoping, none of them called a press conference to announce they wanted a renaissance.

I’m sure all of them had access to at least a Gutenberg press to actually do what MPM did, but they did not do it.

The challenging of established thought

A renaissance is needed for the Malay community, but it will not be triggered or initiated through like-minded conservative organisations that would rather use bogeymen tactics rather than a message to challenge everything.

Because that is exactly what a renaissance was about; the challenging of established thought, the inspiration of innovative and technological leaps that was considered heretic to the old Vatican, and even the importing of knowledge from beyond borders to better everyone’s way of life.

And considering the timing of the MPM to coincide with the worst floods seen in Malaysia, it is obvious that everyone’s way of life is the least of their concerns.

A Malay renaissance would instead be consisting of a need to evaluate 40 years of stagnating income and failure to advance in both ownership of economic equity and increased involvement in entrepreneurship.

To do this, the Malay community would need access to knowledge beyond borders, which is readily available through the Internet in a nation with more than 50 percent broadband penetration since the initiative during Rais Yatim’s tenure as communication and multimedia minister.

However, it was also MPM that had limited the Malay community from understanding this knowledge. Lest we forget, the MPM was one of the coalitions that thought teaching English in Science and Mathematics was a threat to our national language.

Thus, instead of allowing Malays the ability to access multiple research PDF files using Google to satiate their curiosities in anything related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, philosophy and even economics – those things you actually need to trigger a renaissance – these NGOs in the past had actually preferred to leave the Malay community deaf, dumb and mute in these fields.

Now, these same people are urging a renaissance. This makes no sense.

If you honestly want to trigger a renaissance, you should start with allowing everyone an equal chance at education. You need to allow everyone a chance to not only access information, but also the ability to understand it by equipping them with the language skills.

You would also need to allow people to challenge everything in the norm, to create a new normal. You would need to have financial policies that would allow people to fail and get back up to try again in their ventures.

Putting a voice to your thoughts

And for the Malays specifically, if you really want a renaissance period for yourselves, you need to speak up. You need to put a voice or an outlet to your thoughts and look at everything from a new angle.

You cannot look at a row of tom yam restaurants and think you should start the same thing. Instead, you should be thinking it is a perfect place for a pharmacy in case anyone gets indigestion or food poisoning.

You will not get these ideas listening to an old bunch of bogeyman tacticians calling 20,000 of you for a rally in March 2015. Instead, you will find it in cyberspace, at intellectual talks, venturing as far as China as our Prophet recommended, seeing the world and absorbing their knowledge like a sponge.

So please, be smart, be intellectually curious, find that center and that self-balance of yours to focus on what you want to challenge, and challenge it to your heart’s content.

That will trigger a renaissance we all need.

HAFIDZ BAHAROM is the former communications director of the Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM).

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 4 January 2015, 8:25 am and is filed under
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I have abandoned the  idea of discussing and persuading the two MCA Ministers to support in Cabinet a declaration of emergency over floods catastrophe as MCA National Vice President has publicly declared opposition to emergency declaration yesterday

I have abandoned the idea of discussing and persuading the two MCA Ministers to support in Cabinet on Wednesday a declaration of emergency over floods catastrophe as the MCA National Vice President, Datuk Hou Kok Chung has publicly declared opposition to an emergency declaration in Kota Bharu yesterday.

Hou claims that there is no need for an emergency, especially as the worst of the floods catastrophe is over.

Hou and the MCA Ministers and leadership are entitled to their views, but it is most disappointing that there are political leaders, including Ministerial-level politicians, who cannot think outside the box, and are tied down to obsolete thinking and attitudes which undermine their effectiveness as leaders capable of helping the people to  save lives and minimize losses to property especially in a disaster like the worst floods catastrophe in recent decades which caused the evacuation of a quarter of million people to the various relief  centres or easily a total of a million people to include all who  had not gone to the relief centres as well as suffering financial or economic losses from the floods

There should not only be a state of emergency for the floods catastrophe in the states affected, not only during the times when the rise of the floods water were fiercest, but equally important, after the waters have receded in order to facilitate the resolution of the many  huge post-flood challenges and dangers, viz:

•	the cleaning up of the flood-stricken areas, as all towns and villages are now covered with mud which require a gargantuan clean-up operation of public properties, private houses and businesses.

•	The mass and quick construction of temporary houses or shelters for the tens of thousands of flood victims who have been made homeless as a result of the destruction of their houses;

•	Effective measures to prevent the outbreak of diseases as a result of the floods;

•	Assisting the flood victims to start their businesses and life anew, in the shortest possible time – including the giving of interest-free loans ranging from RM1,000 to RM250,000 to every flood victim whose business, big or small, had been destroyed by the floods;

•	The repair of all the infrastructure damages to roads, bridges and public institutions caused by the floods catastrophe.

A state of emergency should not only be declared for the flood-ravaged states, there should also be a Royal Commission of Inquiry to ascertain the weaknesses and failures of the National Flood Disaster Management, Relief and Mitigation Preparations and Plans, so that Malaysia can be more effective preparing for future flood disasters without the grave toll on human lives and gargtantuan loss of property, which has been estimated to be at least RM1 billion from the current floods disaster.

However, for reasons best known to themselves, the MCA Ministers and national leadership are opposed not only to the idea of a declaration of emergency for the flood-afflicted states, but also against a Royal Commission of Inquiry to pinpoint the faults and failures in the National Floods Disaster Preparations Plan, as the National Security Council which has the overall national responsibility for national disasters, seemed to have been completely  caught offguard and unprepared to face the severity, scope and scale of the floods disaster this year.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 4 January 2015, 11:56 am and is filed under
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In Temerloh, villagers ‘not on the list’ appeal to NGOs for supplies as village chiefs cherry pick recipients

BY MELISSA CHI

The Malay Mail Online

January 3, 2015

Temerloh Jan 3 – Even as Malaysians from all walks of life donated massive amounts of food and daily essentials to flood victims, some in Temerloh are claiming they have not received any as village chiefs cherry picked recipients.

While authorities handling the rescue and aid distribution operations in Temerloh said they have enough resources to send supplies to evacuees as well as those trapped in their houses, hiccups at the village level are preventing some families from receiving them.

Housewife Hashimah Abdul Halim from Kampung Lubuk Kawah said ample supplies had been given to the village chief to be distributed but her family as well as many others did not receive any as their names were “not on the list”.

“Thank god we have enough supplies as aid was sent in about three times since the flooding began.

“But most of the time they were from NGOs. The government only sent once and they only gave us one kilo of rice,” she told Malay Mail Online outside her home yesterday.

Speaking in Malay, she said her husband has been going to the distribution centre by boat to pick up supplies as well as arrange for the authorities to help send in aid to the villagers here.

Already hosting three families, the 52-year-old said about 40 homes in her village were cut off while three homes were completely flooded.

“I want to appeal to the public, if you want to donate, please do so through NGOs or make arrangements to send them straight to the victims. Don’t go through the village chiefs.

The flood evacuation centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Tengah in Temerloh, Pahang, January 2, 2015. — Picture by Siow Feng SawThe flood evacuation centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Tengah in Temerloh, Pahang, January 2, 2015. — Picture by Siow Feng Saw“I feel for them. As water recedes further tomorrow and people start to go home, they will need supplies such as food and clothes,” she said.

As her husband picked up bags of supplies from a political party yesterday, she said each bag will be delivered straight to the villagers’ homes, regardless of who they are.

A Royal Malaysian Navy officer told Malay Mail Online that people from another village also had the same complaint, but added there was nothing they could do as they were given instructions to pass the supplies to village heads.

Meanwhile, the “lucky” ones who could return home after flood waters receded have started the daunting task of cleaning up.

Abdul Razak Hassan from Kampung Baru Bintang said yesterday was the second day of cleaning the house and his four children, including a 14-month-old baby, wife and mother who is in her 70s will finally get to sleep there after being away for six days.

The 39-year-old said his family had barely enough to eat on the first day at the evacuation centre but supplies began to flow steadily after that.

He even got some supplies to take home with him when he left yesterday. He noted though that the clean-up process would be challenging as all the ATM machines in Temerloh are still underwater and the nearest petrol station had run out of gas.

“I have to get a ride to Jengka or Kuantan to get supplies,” he said.

Kamarulariffin Othman from Kampung Bintang Hulu said his house was spared from the floods, but his shop was completely underwater a week ago.

“I went to help people with my boat, but when I came back, all my things were gone,” he said.

The flood waters finally receded but the shop was filled with mud, trash and several baby eels.

“I only managed to save some things for my family but the rest had floated away with the flood.

“Thank god my catfish cages are still intact,” he said, adding that it will probably take him about four days to be back in business again.

Residents affected by floods at the evacuation centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Tengah in Temerloh, Pahang, January 2, 2015. — Picture by Siow Feng SawResidents affected by floods at the evacuation centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Tengah in Temerloh, Pahang, January 2, 2015. — Picture by Siow Feng SawSome who were evacuated to larger schools said that while supplies are sufficient, the centres got too crowded.

“Each family is only given a mat and one blanket. If you have a big family, too bad, you’ll just have to make do,” 57-year-old Rodziah Mat Saman told Malay Mail Online at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Tengah evacuation centre.

She said her son had gone back to her home to check on the house yesterday and everything was still floating, upside down.

“It’ll probably take us one whole year to replace the things we have lost,” she said.

She had managed to leave the house with her husband, son and daughter on a motorcycle before the roads were flooded. But the water came in too fast, she said, and she could only grab a few important items.

Even with news of water receding in some areas, many parts of Pahang are still underwater and roads still inaccessible.

As of last night, 77,577 people are still displaced with Pahang recording the highest number at 43,832.

Kelantan still has 26,029 people at evacuation centres, Perak 6,963, Sabah 494, Terengganu 143 and Johor 116.

Temerloh Fire and Rescue Department senior enforcer Mohd Arshad Abdullah said yesterday’s operations had scaled down compared to the first few days of the floods.

“We had about 28 trips each day then, to pick up people who were sick or trapped in their houses.

“Today, we only covered 15 locations and we focus more on sending supplies and medication,” he told Malay Mail Online.

He added that the operations included 15 boats and officers from the Temerloh Fire and Rescue Department, army, the navy, the Jerantut Health Department, and the Marine department.

According to the makeshift map at the operations centre, there are about 35 villages close to the Sungai Pahang river banks. A lot other villages which are further inland could not be reached by boat and had to rely on helicopters for aid distribution.

Mohd Arhsad said operations are expected to last another four to five days.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 4 January 2015, 5:42 am and is filed under
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Raub MP says Najib is finished

FMT Reporters |	January 3, 2015

Ariff Sabri says the devastation caused by the floods in Kuala Krai show the full extent of the “incompetence” of our PM and his government.

PETALING JAYA: DAP’s Ariff Sabri has said in no uncertain terms that Prime Minister Najib Razak had no political future left to speak of, the devastating floods the country has suffered having more or less shown the people the full extent of his incompetence and that of his administration.

In his latest blog entry, the MP for Raub said, “To me, Najib has no more future. The fate of UMNO and his own is already sealed by the next GE.”

He argued that Najib’s handling of the floods especially in Kelantan, the worst hit state, left much to be desired, adding, “Kuala Krai is indeed a watershed which showed the government’s incompetence in handling a national disaster.

Accusing Najib of taking things too lightly, Ariff said in a cynical tone, “Najib and his gang appear to think, they can respond to the flood with a jamboree mentality complete with his minions pointing to the water and saying or mocking us – look Tonto – this is water.”

He also put forth a “nagging” question: “With such extent and level of devastation that took place in many areas of Kelantan, why wasn’t a state of emergency declared?”

Like DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang who has repeatedly called for a declaration of a state of emergency, Ariff too expressed his incredulity that despite over 150,000 people losing property and livestock in the floods, the PM had adamantly refused to declare a state of emergency.

Ariff further argued, “The last time severe floods overwhelmed Pahang, I asked the same question through the Pahang MB.

“The answer I was given was that Najib would also have to declare a state of emergency in other states. That meant more resources would have to be spent.”

Rubbishing this statement, Ariff drew comparisons with President Obama who went ahead to declare a state of emergency during the recent Mississippi floods without having to do the same in all other states.

“Maybe Obama did not have the opportunity to impart some knowledge to Najb during their golfing meet. The game does not enhance intelligence after all.”

Saying Najib was losing out on the opportunity to showcase the country’s machinery in handling a national catastrophe, Ariff said, “Such a declaration would allow the usage of nationally owned facilities and assets and other resources to be used.”

Writing about the horror he felt at reading the many SOS messages sent by desperate doctors at Kuala Krai hospital who were unable to operate on patients because power was cut, he lamented, “Help did not come in time. We will never know of the fatal devastation at Kuala Krai hospital.”

He also praised ordinary Malaysians who came out in droves to help distribute food supplies and basic necessities to flood victims saying, “Thank you to these unsung heroes. There is a future yet for Malaysia.”

This statement was in sharp contrast to the one Ariff made in regard to Najib when he wrote, “ I am not going to offer ameliorating rationale about Najib’s and UMNO’s conduct over the worst flood the country has faced.

“I only want to contribute towards affirming our coming rejection of Najib and his government.

“Our destiny does not depend on whether UMNO survives the next election or not.”

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 4 January 2015, 5:59 am and is filed under
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Top Chinese diplomat being investigated for corruption

BBC News

2 January 2015

A senior Chinese diplomat is being investigated for corruption, China’s foreign ministry says.

Zhang Kunsheng has been removed from his position as assistant foreign minister and is being probed for “violating discipline”, a brief statement from the ministry read.

President Xi Jinping has vowed to eradicate corruption in China.

State media described Mr Zhang as the highest-ranking diplomat to be targeted in the anti-corruption drive.

The anti-corruption campaign has netted thousands of officials since it began in 2012, among them former security chief Zhou Yongkang in 2014.

The foreign ministry said Mr Zhang was “suspected of violating discipline”, an official euphemism for corruption.

Mr Zhang, from central Shanxi province, ranks the first out of four assistant foreign ministers. His last public appearance was at a speech he gave at a regional forum in December.

Ling Jihua, newly elected vice chairman of the Chinese People”s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attends the opening ceremony of the CPPCC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in this March 3, 2013 file photo. Ling Jihua, formerly President Hu Jintao’s most senior aide, was accused of trying to cover up a scandal involving his son

Local media said that the investigation into Mr Zhang was suspected to be related to the recent downfall of former senior presidential aide Ling Jihua.

The ministry’s website also showed Mr Zhang’s role as head of the ministry’s protocol department, which oversees diplomatic ceremonies, as being taken over by ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

China’s foreign ministry was also implicated in another scandal last year, when its ambassador to Iceland vanished amid reports that he had been arrested for selling state secrets to Japan.

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Despite devastation, defiant Kg Baru Guchil villagers stay put

by Zurairi AR

Malay Mail Online

January 4, 2015

KUALA KRAI, Jan 4 — In Kg Baru Guchil here, almost every villager we met talked about their “height” — in reference to how high the recent flood waters rose in their homes.

For Kamarulzaman, his “height” was the roof. During the floods last week, the whole of his two-storey brick house was completely submerged leaving his refrigerator stuck on his ceiling support beams once the waters receded.

“I completed this house six months ago … of course I will return here,” the unemployed 55-year-old man said when asked whether his family of six would abandon the house that was covered completely in thick brown mud inside.

Together with his wife, who was wearing a towel as a makeshift tudung and soiled cotton gloves, he was raking water-soaked debris off the stairs when visited by Malay Mail Online yesterday.

“Before this I was renting somewhere else. Even there we could not escape when ‘air naik’,” he added, using the Malay phrase locals used to refer to the annual floods in the state.

Just north of Kuala Krai town, Kg Baru Guchil is situated in a valley, circled by the rail line connecting Kuala Krai and Sg Nal stations, and the main road connecting Kuala Krai to Kota Baru.

The Kelantan River which rose 17 metres during the floods to 30 metres — five metres over the “danger level” according to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage — is less than two kilometres away.

When the floods hit, water rushed to cover the whole valley. Old wooden houses kissed the earth as their stilts gave way and several houses were carried away by the currents.

At one of the lowest point in the village, one house ended up on top of another after flood waters receded, leaving locals and flood relief workers in equal parts baffled and amused.

The houses that were left standing carried the permanent scars of the waterline, which marked their “heights.”

Still, many of the residents here refused to move. Some, like Osman Mohd Salleh, simply had nowhere else to go. He had settled down in the more vulnerable low-lying area because it was cheaper.

Sitting on his porch clad in just a sarong, Osman said his “height” this year was at the window of his wooden house’s second storey.

“I cannot afford it. I don’t get any pension money. Moving away and building a new house somewhere else would set me back hundreds of thousands,” said Osman, 62.

Envious of his more well-off neighbours who could afford a brick house, Osman explained that he could afford to fortify his house’s pillars with concrete only because his daughter had married a man who made a decent living.

Despite the destruction, many villagers told Malay Mail Online that they would stay put in their decades-old homes even with the annual threat of floods, which they dismissed as just “air naik” — literally meaning “rising water.”

To the left of Kamarulzaman’s home was the house of pensioner Ismail Abdullah, 76, who was even more stubborn. Ismail had lived in a wooden house that was destroyed in the last worst floods back in 1988, before moving to the current one situated just metres away the year after.

Back then, he said his “height” was just over his knees. His “height” this year was just below the roof of his two-storey brick-and-wood house.

Three generations live under his roof, and yesterday all of them were still bunking in flood shelters provided by the Veterinary Services Department 100 metres up the hill.

With the worst ostensibly over, the families are waiting for running water supply to return so that they can go home and start cleaning.

Single mother Nuriah Abdullah, 48, said that the floods had left her undaunted, even when it had destroyed the ancestral home where her sister had lived.

Her sister is now with her in her one-storey brick house, which was completely submerged during the floods.

“If you had come here back then, it felt like an ocean… but I will not move; here I was born, and here I will die,” she added.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 5 January 2015, 7:09 am and is filed under
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Email to Najib asking for meeting before Wednesday’s Cabinet on five important measures to deal with worst floods in recent decades, including the formation of a Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat Floods Catastrophe Joint Action Council

Before 9 pm last night, I sent an email to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak asking for a meeting before Wednesday’s Cabinet on five important measures to deal with the worst floods in recent decades, including the formation of a Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat Floods Catastrophe Joint Action Council.

The floods catastrophe in the past fortnight – which the Prime Minister only realized was a major catastrophe and that Gua Musang and Kuala Krai were among the two worst-hit areas  on the fourth day of his return from Hawaii –  is a major national disaster and saw the best quality of all Malaysians.

This was the ability of Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region, politics, gender or age to unite and come to the aid of the flood victims – with a quarter of a million people evacuated to the relief centres and easily a million of  the total number of people affected by the floods catastrophe.

The costs of the floods catastrophe has been estimated at RM1 billion, and still counting – with the Meteorological Department warning that although the worst of the second wave of the floods catastrophe seemed to be over, a third wave of the monsoon surge is expected to begin on Jan 7 or 8, with possible continuous heavy rainfall up to three days over certain states, especially in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

The formation of a Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat Floods Catastrophe Joint Action Council will formalize what is already happening on the ground in the various flood-stricken states with regard to  the flood relief efforts being rendered by  Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat parties and members to the flood victims, regardless of race, religion or state in the past fortnight.

The National Security Council (NSC) has officially said  that the massive flood that hit Kelantan was the worst in the history of the state.

The NSC  secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab in a statement said water levels of the recent floods superseded the floods of 1967.

According to the council’s report, the water level of Sungai Kelantan at Tambatan DiRaja, which has a danger level of 25 metres, reached 34.17 metres last month compared to 29.70 metres in 2004 and 33.61 metres in 1967.

The levels at Tangga Krai, which has a danger level of 5 metres, reached 7.03 metres compared to 6.70 metres in 2004 and 6.22 metres in 1967.

Thajuddin had already previously claimed that the current Kelantan floods were abnormal, describing it as “a one in 1,000 years event”.

However, the Deputy Mentri Besar of Kelantan Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah is on public record as saying that the current floods in was not as bad as in 1967.

Be that as it may, though claiming that the current floods are the  worst in Kelantan history, Thajuddeen conspicuously omitted reference to the “red flood” (bah merah) in Kelantan in January 1926, which is regarded as the worst-ever floods to hit Kelantan, which inundated all parts of the state with flood waters which were reddish in colour, a departure from the usual milk tea or brown-coloured water caused by the many landslides following 10 days of non-stop heavy rain.

Thajudeen should clarify, but the priority issue at present is not to point fingers of blame or make claims, which should be left to a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the floods catastrophe.

The immediate task and top  priority is to ensure  effective Floods Disaster Mitigation and Relief Management Plans to be carried out for the worst possible scenario under the third wave of the monsoon surges expected on Jan. 7 or 8 and to ensure that all victims of the floods catastrophe especially in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang are able to start life anew and return to normalcy in the shortest possible time – in a period of two months and not “at least six months”.

For this reason, I have emailed the Prime Minister for a meeting before Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting to present a five-point proposal, viz:

* the declaration of a state of emergency for the flood-stricken states;

* the formation of a BN-PR Joint Action Council on Floods Catastrophe;

*Convening of a Special Parliament this month on the Floods Catastrophe which can also discuss the deferment of the implementation of GST so as not to add further burdens on the flood victims;

* Doubling of the RM500 million allocation for relief of flood victims to RM1 billion to enable every flood victim whose livelihood/business had been wiped out by the floods catastrophe to apply for interest free loans, ranging from RM1,000 to RM250,l000 to start life and business anew, and

* Establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the weaknesses and failures of the Floods Disaster Preparations Plans to provide relief and help to the flood victims of the current floods catastrophe.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 5 January 2015, 9:44 am and is filed under
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In the land of endless possibilities, priority for flood victims

COMMENTARY BY THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

5 January 2015

Apart from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, there are a lot of flood victims who are also down with E. Coli infection. Nothing surprising because this is flood waters we are talking about.

So let’s not be bothered if there are leaders down with an infection or suffer some hardship in relief operations for the worst floods to hit Malaysia in decades. At the very least, it is some discomfort before they get well.

The priority, really, should be on the flood victims.

There are many tales of villagers who fled to higher ground and hills to escape the fast-rising waters that burst river banks, destroyed houses, washed away property, swamped tall buildings and at its height – left at least 250,000 people seeking shelter in evacuation centres.

These Malaysians are without food, blankets, toilets and homes. And in the land of almost high income and expenses, the rest of us Malaysians are either raising funds and supplies for them or raising temperatures by picking on what ails our leaders.

We need to go beyond that. Food supplies and emergency aid have been sent to the flood victims. They now need to rebuild their lives and homes.

They need more than our sympathy. They need our help and money to get back their lives. Anything and everything from generator sets, high-pressure cleaning equipment, stoves, clothes, books and more because they have lost everything.

Those in Kelantan need not worry about hudud laws because there is nothing to steal or a secluded place for khalwat. Politics is not their concern, surviving is.

Politicians can slap their mugshots on rice bags but it is pretty much useless if there is no potable water or fire to cook rice. Malaysians have, and need, to continue to go beyond partisan politics to help those in need.

Politicians who fell sick from the effects of the floods can stay at home. To paraphrase Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, we are all humans and some need a break.

Yes, we need a break from politics that divide. We need a break from the venom and vitriol of politics until our fellow Malaysians who survived the floods are back on their own two feet.

The flight movements of the government official jet travelling around the world is not our priority now. Reconstructing lives and livelihoods is the main focus.

We can only hope those ill from the floods, and those down with E. Coli, get better.

But let’s make sure the Malaysians out there shivering in the cold or suffering due to the floods get our undivided attention now. – January 5, 2015.

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It’s like a war zone, Penang volunteers say of flood-hit Kelantan

by Himanshu Bhatt

The Malaysian Insider

4 January 2015

Scenes of devastation in flood-ravaged Kelantan have left Penangites who travelled there with aid convoys in shock and disbelief at the scale of the disaster.

Likening what they saw to a war zone, the volunteers said Malaysians needed to do more to help their fellow citizens rebuild their lives.

State executive councillor Danny Law Heng Kiang said the aftermath of the floods were worse than that of the tsunami, which hit Kedah and Penang 10 years ago in December 2004.

“I consider the effects of these floods on our country to be worse than that of the tsunami,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

“Following the tsunami, which only hit the shoreline, clearing and rebuilding began within three days,” he said.

“But two weeks after these floods started, it is a still a living nightmare for hundreds of thousands of people,” he said.

For example, most shops and businesses had their goods almost completely destroyed in the floods.

“It will take three months before rebuilding can be seen and businesses to have some semblance of normalcy,” he said.

He noted that flood levels rose quickly, in some areas up to several storeys high, and the water remained stagnant for days before subsiding. The putrid stench of rubbish and waste persists in affected areas, he added.

Satees Muniandy, a councillor with the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP), expressed concern that rural and remote areas appeared to be overlooked for aid compared with the more prominent towns.

He said relief from other parts of the country was not adequately reaching people who lived in villages, farms and the countryside.

“There is not much outside aid coming in to these places. Everybody is going to places like Kuala Krai and Kota Baru, while overlooking small towns like Tumpat which we visited,” he said.

“These towns and villages look like they have been in a war. I have never seen anything like this in my life.”

He said sanitation was of particular concern. “Toilets are not operational, and there is no running water.”

Satees said he was especially worried for children who were more susceptible to infectious diseases.

“People are homeless and just staying by the roadside, waiting for passers-by and aid workers to give some food.”

He added that in many places there were only roads left. Most cables, drains, pipes, transmission lines and buildings were severely damaged.

“Many neighbourhoods will have to be rebuilt from scratch,” he said. “Some of the houses have been washed away.”

Satees had gone there with the supply convoy consisting of a 40-foot container truck and three lorries organised by the MPSP councillors and staff.

They went to Tumpat on the northeastern corner of Kelantan and passed Gua Musang, Kuala Krai and Pengkalan Chepa.

“In one place I saw children waiting by the roadside and a lady holding an infant just a few months old hoping for some food,” he said. “I don’t know how they can survive like this.”

Satees said the flood victims were in dire need of dry food like biscuits that they can consume straightaway. They also need diapers, sanitary towels, non-prescription medication and other essential items.

“I wondered how they would rebuild their lives,” he said, adding that many families lost all their belongings like cars, crops, furniture and electrical items.

The floods in Peninsular Malaysia that started in mid-December also affected four other states – Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Johor – and in total, more than 200,000 people were evacuated.

Martin Lim, who accompanied a Penang DAP convoy of 20 cars which brought rations to Kelantan, said he saw “helpless situations” in villages when people rushed out on seeing the passing convoys to get food.

“We could not give as much as we would have liked to because the food was limited and needed to be shared among many people,” said Lim, the chief of staff at the Penang DAP office.

He added that most places were also in total darkness during the nights due to power failure.

People slept along the roadsides, under makeshift canopies and beside campfires,” he said.

“We gave away many candles and torchlights, but I don’t know how they managed through the night,” he said.

Lim also said the area was like a “war zone”.

Except for those on high ground, none of the houses were spared. Those that were still standing were caked with mud, making it tough to clean.

Lim, however admired the resilience of the flood victims.

“They could still smile and were very thankful when we handed out the aid,” he said. – January 4, 2015.ay-of-flood-hit-kelantan#sthash.q4o54SAa.dpuf

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Not just another monsoon: where is the leadership?

by Jules Ong

The Malaysian Insider

5 January 2015

I was a disaster relief volunteer with Mercy Malaysia during its early days. Among the missions I went to were the Afghanistan post-US bombings (2002), Sri Lanka floods (2003), Aceh post-tsunami (2004) and the Sudan civil war (2005).

I used to be on their 48 hour-notice. That means, if there was a disaster, I could be called to pack and leave within 48 hours. I’m no longer on that list. Now, I do my own thing. I am a freelance journalist and filmmaker, and do my bit with friends and families where help is needed.

Last week, upon reading reports of the floods in Kelantan, I decided to call a few friends. From the little information coming in, I gathered that supplies were going in, but distribution was and still is the problem. They could not reach kampungs that were cut off from main roads, many of which were submerged, cut off by broken bridges or landslides.

I own a pretty reliable 12-year-old open cab Mitsubishi truck and decided to put it to good use. With three 4×4 trucks and six friends, we hit the open road last Tuesday (December 30, 2014), loaded up with canned food, instant noodles, drinking water, off-the-counter medicine, toiletries, candles, towels and sarongs – things people would need to temporarily weather the storm. We planned to go into hard-to-reach places left out by big distribution centres.

One of us had good contacts with the Jaringan Orang Asal Semenanjung (JOAS), so we decided to make distributions to Orang Asli villages our priority. Reports had come in that the Orang Asli were hardest hit due to their isolated locations and being inadvertently left out by distribution centres, not on purpose, but through lack of information. But I also had an obligation to deliver provisions to a friend’s family in Kuala Krai.

At Gua Musang, while one truck went east to Kampung Koh, we headed north to Kuala Krai. The other one had to return to Kuala Lumpur upon emptying its provisions at an Orang Asli village near Jerantut.

Little could have prepared us for what we saw. On the stretch from Gua Musang to Kuala Krai, the disaster got increasingly worse from Manek Urai onwards. About 30km into Kuala Krai town, the extent of the damaged revealed itself in greater severity on either side of the road. Houses swept away with only foundations and their cement stairs left. Further down, mounds of debris of what used to be homes. Trees uprooted, palm oil plantations destroyed. River banks that was inundated left dead and decaying trees all covered in silt. Everything was the yellow ocher colour of silt.

The deluge did not just rise and fall. It rose, taking along property, plants, livestock and people, dropping them far away, or dumping them into the sea.

A day before our departure last Tuesday, I called up the Banjir Hotline in Kota Baru to find out about the situation in Kelantan. A lady by the name of Puan Rohaya answered. She told me that she could not contact her family in Pasir Mas and she was worried sick, yet she was manning the hotline because it was her job.

She said in Kuala Krai, the current was so strong, their boats to bring aid in had capsized. That corresponded with what we saw after the water subsided – the extent of the damage caused by forceful moving mass of water. If it had come from the sea, it would have been called a tsunami. What I saw with my own eyes reminded me of post-tsunami in Aceh.

Here, though, the shocking thing is the lack of media attention to the extent of damage and destruction, and the government’s lack of will to provide coordination and responsible and useful information of what is really happening on the ground. Without central command and coordination, each department is doing their own thing. Praise is given when it is due. Kudos to the JKR website and Twitter for providing daily updates on road accessibility. But this information should come out from a central coordination command centre which every volunteer aid worker can access to know the weather, what to bring, where to go and how to get there.

In Kuala Krai, we went to deliver provisions to a family friend who lives by the river behind a police station. Kak Su is eight months pregnant. Her husband, Wan, told us that flood waters started to rise at 2am; by 7am it was up to the roof.

“This has never happened in our 50 years living in this kampung. This is the worst ever,” Kak Su said.

Kak Su was on a house raft built by her husband to collect latex brought down by river boats on ordinary days. She and her husband had been on the house raft tethered by three ropes to a tree by the riverbank for four days. On the last day, only one rope remained. She watched house after house being swept down the river while her husband took pictures on his phone. They also told us that about 200 people were missing from their village after the floods.

Most of the houses on the opposite bank of the river were gone. On their side, her house stood while most of her neighbours’ were piles of rubble. People stood by the roadside waiting for handouts. They were homeless and everything they owned was destroyed in the floods, except for what they were wearing. When we came in our truck, children yelled: “Bantuan, bantuan! (aid, aid)” and everyone mobbed our truck. We gave whatever little provisions we had.

Kuala Krai town looked bombed out. It was covered in silt, and stank in some stretches. No water, no electricity. Shops were damaged, goods destroyed by water and silt. Mounts of debris and discarded items piled on the roadside. People were not sure whether to clean up or to wait for the next wave of floods. Again, there was no information of what to expect and how to respond. Elected representatives appeared to be more interested in showing themselves holding babies, delivering sacks of rice with their faces on them, rather than providing much-needed central coordination and useful information. In such a situation, a normal, functioning government would create a central crisis coordination centre that would provide (or attempt to provide as best it can):

1) Daily press briefings on the weather forecast and the situation on the ground.

2) Information on what is needed and where they are needed, which areas need help, which have not received aid, access roads, directions, coordinates on locations.

3) Information of contact persons on the ground (bilik gerakan), local  coordination units responsible for collection centres and distribution.

4) Information on what to expect, and if it rains again, what people should do. How should people help? What are the things needed to survive the next wave? We can’t just live on rice and instant noodles.

5) Updates on medical response. How many hospitals and government clinics incapacitated and where people can get medical aid. Where are medical provisions and doctors needed? Where should they go to provide medical aid?

6) Updates on numbers of people injured, missing, confirmed dead.

All these should be available with daily updated information on a central website online dedicated to this crisis, on radio, TV and newspapers. It has been more two weeks since the floods hit, but still nothing of that sort. This is not just another annual monsoon flood. This is possibly the worst flood since independence.

Serious questions need to be asked after disaster relief. The next phase is recovery and rebuilding which can take years. What is the cost of the damage? Who is accountable for that? It is easy to blame nature, an “act of God”, but it is not rocket science to see the impact of deforestation on the landscape. The stretch from Gua Musang to Kuala Kerai is enough to show us acres upon acres of deforested hills, and the monoculture of the 1plant: palm oil.

Forests act as a sponge to hold rainwater and release it slowly into rivers. Monoculture plantations have limited ability to do that. Most of those who lost houses to the floods are the less wealthy people who live close to rivers while those who carve out the hills for timber and plantations own wealthy companies. Who gave them the licence to log out the hills and convert them into plantations?

On the way back to Gua Musang, where we were to meet the other truck returning from Kampung Koh, we saw kampung people, both adults and children, standing by the roadside asking for handouts from moving vehicles.

A lone woman stood by the roadside struggling with three packs of biscuits with her bare hands. We had given out all our provisions and only had a couple of empty plastic bags left in the truck. I stopped my truck and my friend Nisha crossed the road and handed one to the woman. When she came back, she said the woman cried receiving the one empty plastic bag. She was trying to collect food for her family and that one plastic bag meant she could carry more for her family.

There were many, many families left out in the cold that night. One man approached me and I asked him, “Have you received aid from the government?”

He said, “Yes, there is some food. But it is cold at night, and we sleep in the open. We need blankets.”

While the media moves on to other stories (not that it dwells much on this), I wonder how long this man and his family will take to rebuild their house and their lives before the next monsoon. – January 5, 2015.

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Putrajaya must revise budget in light of oil slump, says economist

by Anisah Shukry

The Malaysian Insider

3 January 2015

As Putrajaya responds to falling global oil prices by prioritising domestic spending and investments, a leading economist has warned that the national budget for 2015 was unsustainable if it is not revised to account for the price drop in the commodity, of which Malaysia is a net exporter.

Tan Sri Dr Kamal Salih, an adjunct professor of Economics and Development Studies at Universiti Malaya, said no amount of tax increase could compensate for Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) lower revenue contributions to Putrajaya.

 “Of course, the government has to revise the budget. The assumption of the oil price was quite high and now it must be reduced to a realistic level, especially as the price may go down for a long time,” he said.

“The current budget is not sustainable now.”

Budget 2015 of RM273.9 billion was tabled last October and passed by the Dewan Rakyat on November 25. It was prepared on the assumption that oil prices would hover around US$100 (RM351) to US$105 a barrel.

The government has moved to boost domestic consumption in 2015 by instructing all government-linked companies and statutory bodies to prioritise domestic investments and cease purchases of foreign assets.

A circular on this dated December 26, 2014, was seen by The Malaysian Insider.

Kamal also warned that plunging commodity prices, such as oil, palm oil, rubber as well as surplus trade were putting pressure on Malaysia’s revenue and the creation of jobs.

“Now the job creation (rate) has dropped again. So if there is a recession due to the lowering of prices, we are going to enter a deflationary period that the government may not be able to handle.”

A few days after the budget was passed, Petronas, which contributes to almost 40% of the national coffer, warned Putrajaya to tighten its belt. The national oil firm said it faced the possibility of lower earnings in light of falling crude oil prices.

Petronas president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas said the price range of Brent crude oil at US$70 to US$75 may be a “new era”, until the end of next year, if not for the next two years.

“If the oil price is to remain at the current level, it would mean a much lower revenue contribution (from Petronas) to the government. Lower oil price will affect the amount of tax and royalty to the government,” Shamsul had said in a statement on November 28.

Petronas’ pre-tax profit fell 12% to RM22.8 billion in the third quarter ending September 30, 2014, against RM25.9 billion in the previous corresponding quarter. Its revenue also slipped 1% to RM80.4 billion from RM81.4 billion last year.

Despite this, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong told Dewan Negara on December 8 that the budget would not be revised, as the 3% fiscal deficit target in 2015 would not be affected.

He said the decline in oil revenue would be balanced by substantially reduced fuel subsidy with the implementation on December 1 of a managed float system to determine prices of RON 95 petrol and diesel.

While Malaysia may not face another 1998 financial crisis, its debts were still high and thus created “a different ballpark”, said Kamal, who co-authored the United Nations’ Malaysia Human Development Report released last year.

Kamal said that aside from revising the budget in terms of oil revenue, the government needed to create “pragmatic new economic policies” to address the high income and wealth inequality in Malaysia.

He said efforts to alleviate the burden of the poor through cash transfers, such as the 1Malaysia People’s Aid Voucher (BR1M), were not financially sustainable for the government.

Instead, Putrajaya should “reset the economy” to create a larger middle class, he said, noting that only 20% of Malaysians made up that demographic.

He added that expanding the middle class through policies revolving minimum wage and education, for instance, would ensure inclusive growth and development, as opposed to the government’s current focus of simply pursing a high-income status.

“We must allocate our resources better and not pursue this very pro-business capital economy orientation that the current administration prefers.

“The policies must be directed more to the vulnerable group. The government should not add to the living costs, but instead tax the more wealthy,” said Kamal.

He gave as an example the capital gains tax – a system mooted by opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat in place of the goods and services tax (GST), but shot down by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the grounds that it was not business-friendly and would result in capital flight.

Kamal dismissed such an argument, noting that other countries had implemented capital gains tax without much difficulty.

“If you just favour the GST, that is being biased. Such taxes should be implemented, but what matters is that it is done without creating a disincentive. Economics is all about balancing incentives with disincentives.”

When asked if he believed the government was on the right track to improving the country, Kamal said, “I think the government is aware what needs to be done.

“The question is whether it was the political will to get it done correctly.”

He had also told The Malaysian Insider in the first part of this interview published yesterday that the government should have a national economic policy that did away with the Bumiputera agenda in favour of one that would uplift all Malaysians regardless of race. – January 3, 2015.

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Sluggish response to catastrophic floods raises many questions

COMMENT
 by Azril Annuar

The Malaysian Insider

5 January 2015

Total and utter devastation – this, in essence, describes the situation in the East Coast, which bore the brunt of the worst flooding to hit the country in decades. An estimated 150,000 people have been affected, and hundreds of homes lost. Entire villages have been practically wiped out in Kuala Krai, Manek Urai and Dabong, among the worst-hit areas in Kelantan.

Roads and bridges have been destroyed and communications lines cut. Wireless telecommunication has been reduced to the most basic levels. Electricity was cut off for days and treated water supply is still not back.

The only time I had seen a disaster of this scale was during the earthquake in Padang, Indonesia, about five years ago. For my editor, Terence Fernandez, the scenes of houses piled up on top of one another is comparable with the scenario in Aceh following the tsunami of 2004.

A scene closer to home with similar impact but on a smaller scale would be the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide that took several lives during Hari Raya Haji back in 2009.

However, the difference between all these disaster areas and the chaos we have witnessed in Kuala Krai and Manek Urai is quite simple: The aftermath of the other disasters was managed expeditiously.

It would be unfair to make a comparison between Padang and Aceh and the situation in Kelantan as the devastation in those two places was more widespread and they received far more international aid.

Even so, the response to the two disasters was still more efficient although the magnitude of the disasters in terms of lives lost and area affected was bigger.

My comparison is closer to home – the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide.

Comparatively, the tragic incident in 2009 happened on a far smaller scale than the widespread chaos of the year-end floods of 2014 which affected nine states.

However, the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide brought out the military engineering corps and a strong military and police presence. The authorities were there in full force to organise everything.

Admirably, the army’s engineering corps quickly constructed a ramp to replace a destroyed bridge in barely a day to facilitate search and rescue operations.

The police ensured smooth traffic and saw to it that everyone had shelter. This gave the victims a sense of security – that someone was in charge and looking out for them.

As Bukit Antarabangsa is in my neighbourhood, I saw first-hand how organised the Malaysian military and police force can be. They are more than capable of organising this kind of relief effort.

The villagers in Kampung Manek Urai will need a lot of help to rebuild their lives following the floods in Kelantan. – Pic courtersy of The Edge Financial Daily, January 5, 2015.The villagers in Kampung Manek Urai will need a lot of help to rebuild their lives following the floods in Kelantan. – Pic courtersy of The Edge Financial Daily, January 5, 2015.My questions are: Why are Kuala Krai and Manek Urai in total chaos? Why are they not managing traffic in Manek Urai where “tourists” clog up the narrowed and destroyed roads, snapping photos, taking selfies and impeding relief efforts?

Worse yet, these visitors might put themselves in danger as they arrive not in four-wheel drives but in small sedans or motorcycles that can easily get stuck in the slurry and mud left in the wake of what the locals have dubbed the “Adik Tsunami” (smaller tsunami).

Where is the Engineering Corps to build ramps and replace destroyed or damaged bridges and roads so that remote areas can have some access to food, shelter, medicine and basic necessities? Why are they not deploying their teams en mass to repair the water utilities so that folks here can have clean water?

Where are the police? Since arriving in Kuala Krai on December 31, I hardly saw a police officer on duty throughout the entire town and its outskirts. Why must business owners have to sleep outside their shops to ward off looters?

Granted that the Kuala Krai police may have been incapacitated as the floods inundated the headquarters and adjoining barracks, destroying many assets including patrol cars.

However, if an emergency was declared, the army would be patrolling the streets to maintain law and order.

Also: why is it that my editor and I are able to send relief supplies to remote areas with only a four-by-four pick-up truck, courtesy of a corporate sponsor, whereas many victims did not get help from the authorities although the security forces are much better equipped to do a better job?

We went to Kelantan in an individual capacity to render what small aid we can as this is Terence’s home state and his parents’ home was inundated as well. Yet unlike the well-equipped authorities, two journalists with a few friends managed to find some of the remote areas which have not received any aid since the disaster struck.

What happened to the Army’s Logistics Corps who should know which remote outlying areas would need aid to be sent?

Last I read before heading to Kuala Krai was that Jeli MP and Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed had admitted the government’s weaknesses in handling the worst flood in decades.

If this is so, why has the Prime Minister not declared an emergency in areas like Kuala Krai? After all, he cut short an important meeting with the US President to return home in our time of need.

The massive floods in Kelantan destroyed many houses in Kampung Dusun Bunut. – Pic courtesy of The Edge Financial Daily, January 5, 2015.The massive floods in Kelantan destroyed many houses in Kampung Dusun Bunut. – Pic courtesy of The Edge Financial Daily, January 5, 2015.He even recalled members of his Cabinet who were overseas to come home and do their duty.

Even so, during a national disaster, should these ministers not cut short their travel and return home without being told to?

The government has to act impartially to avoid being accused of focusing assistance on its vote banks.

Have our politicians forgotten their oath of office to serve all regardless of affiliation?

It is bad enough that the government is accused of being partial in distributing national development. Here, there is talk that relief is also apportioned along party lines, as some flood victims have alleged.

After normalcy returns, it would be important to find out if there is any truth in such talk.

For the PAS-held state for the last 25 years, it is possible that the flood havoc may make the people of Kelantan think about a change.

But, at the end of the day, the disappointing lack of support for the victims of the East Coast floods could turn the disaster into a watershed moment for either the state or the federal government. – The Edge Financial Daily, January 5, 2015.

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