‘TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FLOODS’
Penang folk have had enough, says Umno rep
THE whole of Penang is crying as they are again forced to deal with flood problems, the state assembly heard yesterday.
State opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid said the state administration should take responsibility as residents and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had warned of a possible catastrophe in Penang.
The Teluk Air Tawar assemblyman pointed out that in the 10 years of DAP governing the state, there had been 119 flood incidents, with 22 this year alone, and 11 lives lost in a landslide.
“Just compare the floods on the island and the mainland.
“Here (on the island) it is more muddy, like teh tarik. It is clear that soil erosion had occurred and the drainage system is not good enough.
“This is a wake-up call.
“Penangites have had enough and they have voiced this out.
“The government should listen.”
Jahara said flood problems seemed to be escalating.
She said over development, forest encroachment and the lack of enforcement had contributed to the devastating effect of heavy rain, leading to flooding.
“The NGOs have warned many times of a possible catastrophe in the state.
“Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng promised to listen to these groups. However, he is not only ignoring their warnings, but also cannot take their criticism.”
Citing the case of Penang Forum, a coalition of NGOs that had voiced out against the state’s environmental policies, Jahara said the state administration looked down on the coalition.
“The state government must be serious in handling this problem.
“Prioritise flood mitigation projects instead of focusing on mega projects, like the undersea tunnel and highway projects, to ensure that another flood disaster can be avoided.”
On the RM10 million allocation announced by Lim for the protection of hills and the study on climate change, Jahara said it was “too little, too late”.
In a related development, residents of Miami Green Resort Condominium in Tanjung Bungah had called for an end to all development on hillslopes in Penang following numerous landslide incidents, in particular the recent Tanjung Bungah landslide that claimed the lives of 11 men.
Some 10 residents gathered in front of the State Legislative Assembly building yesterday to hand over a memorandum to the state government on the matter.