By Alang Bendahara
SHAH ALAM, Jan 20 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has admitted that the floods that hit Selangor last year were beyond the capabilities of the State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN).
He said Selangor rarely faces such massive floods and that the disaster was an unexpected event by all parties despite continuous weather warnings.
“For example, although the residents in Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam, are used to facing flash floods due to heavy rains, they did not expect that the water levels would increase drastically and reach a high level at the time.
“Rescue agencies had also faced difficulties in getting the cooperation of residents to evacuate immediately,” he said when tabling the papers on the flood disaster which occurred at the end of last year at the Special Meeting of Dewan Rakyat here today.
Ismail Sabri said the flood victims did not want to leave their homes for several reasons, including the location of the flood relief centres (PPS) being too far, worry over thieves breaking into their homes, and the fear of being infected by Covid-19 at the PPS.
“As a result, when the water level rose sharply, many residents were trapped and needed immediate help,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said rescue efforts were hampered by stranded vehicles on the main roads that blocked the access of rescue vehicles that forced rescue assets into the flooded areas.
“In addition, rescue boats also faced difficulties manoeuvring due to the submerged vehicles. Also, the rescue was delayed because the caller’s home address could not be identified as it was already immersed in water.
Elaborating further, he said guides were also used to help mobilise rescuers and assets from other states as they are not familiar with the flooded areas.
Ismail Sabri said the cut in electricity supply and communication infrastructure due to the floods made it impossible for victims to contact rescue agencies for assistance.
“These are the challenges faced by the rescue team and personnel in this unusual disaster operation,” he added.
