Would Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam pay full compensation for losses of flood victims if I can prove that he had admitted that the release of water from the Durian Tunggal pumphouse had contributed to the flooding in several areas in Melaka, especially Taman Merdeka? 

Press Statement

by Lim Guan Eng

(Melaka, Friday): DAP express shock at Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam’s denial that the government released water from the Durian Tunggal Dam in Alor Gajah, causing several areas in Melaka to be flooded, especially Taman Merdeka. He said that the excess water in the dam which reached full capacity due to exceptionally heavy rain last week, was instead pumped to Jus dam in Jasin.

Instead Ali claimed that the government had opened the water gate at the Gangsa pump house to save the generator which powered the Bertam and Bukit Sebukor water treatment plants. The release of such water did not cause floods and the generator had to be saved or else there will be no supply of clean water.

It is false and wrong for Ali to deny that the flooding was caused by the release of water. Ali’s claims that this was a natural disaster would not be believed by residents in Taman Merdeka who suffered the worst flooding ever even though there was no heavy rain in the area. Residents there have told me that there have been even heavier rainfall in the past without any flooding. But this time, flood water rose rapidly by a feet within an hour to as high as 5 feet, even though there was no heavy rain. Only release of water could have caused this “man-made” flood disaster.

Ali’s denial is clearly designed to help Ayer Keroh ADUN Datuk Seah Kwi Tong who had come under heavy criticism from his voters for failing in his duty to notify the residents that water had been released. Whilst residents can understand the need by the government to release water, they are furious that the government particularly their local ADUN Seah had failed to notify them earlier to help them save their belongings and reduce losses.

Such failure to notify them had caused huge losses to the residents and businesses in the affected areas extending to even Taman Malim Jaya, estimated to reach RM 100 million. DAP condemns the irresponsible attitude of the government of not forseeing the adverse impact on the losses on the principal industrial area in Melaka.

Such denials would not help the credibility of Ali and the state government when it is clear that this major flooding is a man-made disaster. Would Ali agree to pay full compensation for losses of flood victims if I can prove that he had admitted that the release of water from the Durian Tunggal pumphouse had contributed to the flooding in several areas in Melaka, especially Taman Merdeka?

Ali claimed that the government had allocated RM 1.8 million for flood victims, or around RM 200 each. This amount is too small to overcome the losses faced by the residents. The government has a legal obligation and moral responsibility to redeem their mistake of not notifying the residents earlier of release of water by contributing substantially towards the losses incurred by the flood victims.