Have proper rebuilding plan for disaster zones, Anwar urges Putrajaya

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is calling for all citizens to rally behind the government in rebuilding efforts at the flood-hit areas in the east coast. – The Malaysian Insider pic, December 29, 2014.Putrajaya needs to come up with a comprehensive plan to repair and redevelop homes destroyed in the floods, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The opposition leader said everyone had to work as a team and support the government in tackling the worst flood to have hit the country in recent times.

He said the government should swiftly approve immediate allocations of food and medical supplies, especially to the critically-hit areas.

"I have contacted Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali to ask him to extend as much help as possible.

"I have also instructed the party machinery in all states affected by floods to help in relief efforts, distribute necessities to victims and assist in cleaning up areas where the floodwaters have receded," he said in a statement today.

Malaysia is dealing with one of its worst floods in history, with over 225,000 people in six states evacuated as the situation worsens.

Putrajaya is also being criticised for being unprepared in dealing with the calamity, following complaints that the government had been slow to send food and water to relief centres.

Aid workers had also reportedly complained that there were not enough boats for distributing aid to villages cut off from Kota Baru, Kelantan.

It was also reported that electricity cuts and flooded roads had stopped banks from replenishing automatic teller machines and petrol companies from supplying fuel to the flood-hit villages.

The calamity, however, has seen Malaysians rally together to collect funds and supplies to help the victims, namely in the worst-hit states like Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

"So many Malaysians regardless of age, gender, races and politics have come forward to help by donating money, supplies and energy.

"(PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan) Azizah (Wan Ismail), the entire PKR family and I pray that this disaster will end and the burden faced by all affected will be lifted," Anwar, who is also Permatang Pauh MP added.

- TMI