PKR defends Anwar over aid for Palestine amid debate on Sabah's flood relief

 

Sabah PKR has rallied to defend Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim amid rising criticisms online that Putrajaya pledged RM200 million for Palestine while allocating only RM10 million for flood and landslide victims in Sabah.

The comparison has been widely circulated on social media, with users questioning why humanitarian aid abroad exceeded what was given to Sabahans reeling from deadly floods.

At least 14 people have been killed and thousands more evacuated after more than a week of heavy rain paralysed much of western Sabah, leaving homes destroyed, power lines cut, and key roads severed in Penampang, Papar, Membakut, Sipitang and other districts.

Sabah PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud said the criticism was unfair, as he argued that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza was of a different scale.

He stressed that the RM10 million, which was announced by Anwar in Doha, was an initial allocation from the National Disaster Management Agency and that further funds would follow once federal and state agencies completed technical assessments.

“Yesterday, I accompanied the prime minister to the affected areas.

“He instructed the Public Works Department to immediately assess the needs, and he assured that the tender process would be exempted from the usual procedures,” said Mustapha.

On the plight of Palestinians, he said Malaysia must be seen to play its role on the global stage against an ongoing genocide.

“Children are being killed every day. So, of course, the country must be seen to play its role, just as Singapore and Japan have done.

“But that does not mean Sabah’s needs are ignored. The prime minister has made it clear Sabah’s requirements will be taken care of,” the Sepanggar MP said at his constituency office in Kota Kinabalu today.

‘Attack on Warisan’

Mustapha further went on the offensive against state opposition Warisan, accusing the opposition party of insensitivity for holding political programmes while victims were still cleaning mud from their homes.

He further criticised Warisan’s record in government, citing lawsuits worth RM315 million arising from the cancellation of nine water concession contracts, as well as delays to the Pan Borneo Highway following the scrapping of the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) model.

Warisan had initially defended the cancellation of the water concession contracts in 2018, arguing they were lopsided and costly, though the state was required to pay RM315 million in compensation.

The party maintained that the move would deliver long-term savings and pledged to clean up Sabah’s water sector.

On the Pan Borneo Highway, Warisan chief Shafie Apdal stressed that it was the federal government, not Warisan, that terminated the model in 2019. He said the PDP system was expensive and inefficient, with contractors lacking proper capacity, adding that the Public Works Department later resumed oversight.

Mustapha, when quizzed over how Warisan members were also seen assisting the flood victims, noted that PKR welcomed all parties, including Warisan, lending aid to flood and landslide victims.

However, Mustapha maintained that his criticisms stemmed from Warisan using the crisis to hold events mocking Anwar and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

“That is what we regret, not the aid. Do not go overboard in politics until respect is lost,” he added.

Outreach done

Mustapha also highlighted PKR’s branches, women’s wing and youth volunteers had mobilised members to deliver aid and clean up affected villages.

He said the youth wing’s first mission reached more than 200 households involving 1,030 victims in Penampang, Papar, Kinarut and Beaufort, with a second wave of 200 volunteers now working to clean homes, mosques, suraus, churches and other places of worship.

Mustapha estimated that each badly affected constituency would need at least RM3 million for urgent repairs.

Federal and state agencies, including Nadma and the Fire and Rescue Department, continue to operate relief centres, reconnect utilities and clear blocked roads. - Mkini