MUDA urges Minister to resign for Nadma's poor rescue missions during floods

 

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Duties) Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad speaks to reporters during a press conference at the National Disaster Management Agency headquarters in Cyberjaya. NSTP/ SAMADI AHMAD

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) has urged Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad to resign from his post.

Muda information chief Zaidel Baharuddin said the call was made due to the ministry's agency, National Disaster Management Agency's (Nadma) failure to coordinate rescue missions during flash floods.

"We refer to several news reports stating the Armed Forces were deployed late to the flood disaster areas around the Klang Valley due to Nadma's failure to coordinate.

"Some even reported that Nadma was somewhat reluctant to involve the Armed Forces for unknown reasons. Even Muda volunteers witnessed a lack of coordination by Nadma during the crisis in the following days.

"We urge the Abdul Latiff to be responsible for this failure and resign from his post immediately," he said in a statement.

Zaidel added that the government should not waste the taxpayers' money to bear the cost of tens of thousands of ringgit to cover a non-functioning minister as well as his officers.

He said the party also called for the rescue operation teams to end the culture of welcoming VIPs at the temporary shelters or disaster areas.

"Boats and assets should be given priority to rescue and help victims, instead of being prioritised to bring 'disaster tourists' to visit the tragedy-stricken areas.

"The ministers and dignitaries who are visiting (the areas) should help out or at least don't even come and bother," he said.

Since Friday (Dec 17), intense rainfall has caused floods around Klang Valley and other states displacing families and their homes as well as leaving a number of residents trapped at the rooftops due to the rapid water rising.

To date, 14 casualties are reported and leaving around 21,000 displaced nationwide due to the floods.

Apart from volunteers from the public as well as authorities to rescue the victims, ministers also shared photos and videos recounting their experiences visiting the victims on their respective social media accounts.

The move had drawn public ire as some of the ministers were seen utilising assets that could have been used for search and rescue missions. - NST