NEWS - 27 December

Nazri: Public was warned of possible floods

KUALA LUMPUR: The public had been warned of a possible flood in Johor on Dec 15 and Dec 16, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said.

Nazri denied claims by some in the flood-stricken areas that they had no advance warning of the floods.

“The public was informed on Dec 15 and Dec 16,” he told reporters after launching a seminar and exhibition in conjunction with the Disaster Awareness Day anniversary at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

He was asked to comment on public complaints that the people were not informed about the possibility of floods via the media.

“We knew about it in advance. We went down to the ground to inform the people about the rising waters and advised them to evacuate.

“Unfortunately, there were some people who were reluctant to leave their homes although the water level was one foot high. They took the matter lightly,” he said.

“And it happened too fast. We did not have time to inform the Information Ministry because we were focusing on rescue efforts.

Full article can be found at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/12/27/nation/16416427&sec=nation

BELOW ARE MY COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

I would like to ask the Government;

1. Why is the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (in-charge of Parliment) is making such a comment?

2. Where is the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation? MOSTI is in-charge of the Malaysian MET Service.

3. Where is the Chairman of the National Disaster Committee, Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak?

4. Why can't these Ministers make a statement? Why does the Government need to have a Minister in charge of Parliment to make statements that does not concern Parliment?

I have made some investigations to the statement made by Nazri that the Government went to the ground to inform the rakyat that there are floods coming. Fact is, there were no announcements made on the 1st wave of floods. Nazri is total BULL!!! If they did inform, how was it done? Were the District Police Stations informed, were the District Hospitals and Fire Rescue Service informed, were the District Office informed, were the Penghulus informed, were the Pengerusi JKKK and Ketua Kampung informed, where the people informed? How does the government inform the Public in affected areas in such a short period of time? PROVE IT!!!

May be, in certain areas, the public were informed by the Sistem Amaran Banjir at the rivers, where a siren will sound when the water levels rise above the danger levels. But does the Sistem Amaran Banjir is put all along populated areas of the river? Is it in sound working conditions? Look what happend to TTDI Jaya in Shah Alam. The bloody siren didnt sound because of a malfunction. DUH!!!

Then, you have Nazri saying that they have informed the public and that the public were reluctant to move. Then, you say that you did not have time to inform the Information Ministry... HELLO!!! The information Ministry is one of the most important ministry to inform the public on such an occasion. What the hell were you thinking? You are a minister... or should i say... How did a minister in charge of parliment got to know about it first, before the minsiter of information? Who informed you Nazri? Minister of Science? Then he should have the Minister of Information's mobile number on speed dial.

If you did not have time to inform the Information Ministry to disseminate the information thru media and thru the Penerangan Offices in states and districts, how did you inform the public? Penerangan Offices have vehicles with loudhailers to go round to inform the public la... Polis and Bomba pun ada jugak... If you did not inform penerangan, did you get to inform the Police, District office, JKR, Penghulu, Ketua Kampung, JKKK before you informed the Information Ministry and the media?

I asked a number of people affected by the floods... they were not informed on the 1st wave. So Nazri... no wait... Government, please explain what is the procedure of a Disaster Effort. I hope someone, may be the PAC will investigate this and correct what is wrong.

The government should take note on the comments made by the public. Not discard them away, or worse, deny what has happened. Admit your mistakes and rectify them. We all know that the machinery within the government sucks... and you have not learned from the tsunami disaster relief. The people are not against the government, they want to improve the government's delivery system... but sadly... the government is not hearing....

AngkasaOne siging off...