Najib should take stern action against military personnel who took bribe from flood victims

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Najib should take stern action against military personnel who demanded bribes from flood victims and review the rescue exercise during the Johor flood crisis

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Press Statement
by Teresa Kok
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(Kuala Lumpur, Friday) : The lead story in Guang Ming Daily today reported that a flood victim, Wong Yee Ken of Segamat, had lodged a police report on how he was forced to bribe a military officer to take food and drinks to his customers and staff who were trapped in his hair salon and also to rescue them by boat.

The report, lodged at 5.20pm yesterday (Police Report Number SEGAMAT/007292/06), confirms widespread rumours about military personnel demanding bribes from flood victims in Segamat last week. The allegations had also appeared in a Chinese-language website, www.segamat.8talk.ne t.

The content of the police report is as follow: "Pada 20/12/2006 jam lebih kurang 2130 hours semasa saya berada di simpang jambatan kedua ke Sri Genuang. Ada 2 buah bot tentera ada di situ dan saya minta pertolongan mereka untuk menghantar makanan dan minuman kepada pelanggan dan orang kerja saya di kedai gunting rambut Feiwan, Jalan Genuang. Salah seorang daripada tentera tersebut yang berpakaian uniform telah meminta wang kepada saya untuk pergi menghantar makanan ke kedai tersebut. Saya terpaksa membayar RM250 kepada tentera tersebut. Tujuan saya buat laporan ini kerana tidak puas hati terhadap perkara ini. Sekian laporan saya."

Guang Ming Daily today reported how Wong said that on the night of Dec 20, the military personnel agreed to rescue seven people who were stranded in his saloon in return for a RM250 bribe. But after money exchanged hands, only three persons of the seven were moved to safer grounds.

Last week, after I highlighted claims military personnel were taking bribe from flood victims, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak immediately denied the allegations. It is very irresponsible of him to deny the allegations without first carrying out an investigation.

As a police report has now been lodged, I urge Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak, as Defence Minister, to order a thorough investigation into the allegations and to take stern action against those involved in the alleged bribery incidents.

Army lacking in rescue strategies

During a visit by DAP leaders to Segamat on Dec 24, victims told us they hardly saw any military rescue boats on the first day of the flood. We were also told that the rescue teams were not well-versed in rescue strategies and lacked coordination. For example, there were seven or eight soldiers in some of the boats, which made it impossible for them to ferry more flood victims in the boats.

Many of the townspeople were rescued by a group of fishing enthusiasts using their private boats. It appears they, not the soldiers, were the first group of rescuers on the scene who risked their lives going out in their under-powered boats to help save lives. I strongly urge the government to give special recognition to this group of unsung heroes who rescued hundreds before official rescuers arrived.

Relief funds should also be given to victims who did not stay in government-run relief centres

The flood victims in Segamat are dissatisfied that the relief fund application forms require flood victims in Johor to name the location of the relief centre. This means victims who did not stay in official relief centres are not entitled to funds. This is very unfair on those who have sought refuge in NGO premises, temples, commercial buildings, relatives' and friends' homes. There was a report in the press about a generous couple in Segamat who housed 90 flood victims on the first day of the flash floods. These 90, and many more, are likely to miss out on relief fund if commonsense does not prevail.

As a second wave of floods may be coming, it is imperative that Najib looks into all the complaints made by the flood victims, particularly the cases involving military personnel who demanded bribes from the victims. He should immediately carry out a prompt investigation into the issue and take the necessary disciplinary action against the culprits, as their actions have seriously tarnished the image of the military and the flood rescue efforts by the government.

(29/12/2006)

* Teresa Kok, MP for Seputeh and DAP Publicity Secretary