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Media Statement (2)
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Parliament, Friday): The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has shown exemplary royal concern about the plight of the victims of the massive Shah Alam flood on Sunday in summoning Shah Alam Mayor Datuk Ramli Mahmud and other top state department officers to his palace for a full explanation.

The Star in an exclusive report today said other high-ranking senior officials at the meeting at Istana Kayangan Shah Alam included those from the Drainage and Irrigation Department and Public Works Department.

Conspicuously absent was the Selangor Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr. Muhammad Khir Toyo. Where has he gone? Why was he absent?  Isn’t he the CEO of Selangor, which he has proclaimed as the first “developed State” in Malaysia – when it should be the first “flood-developed state” in the nation!

The Sultan expressed his disappointment at the flood that has caused so much hardship to the residents and ordered that there should be transparency and that the public  should be kept informed of the actions taken.

Sunday’s flood in Shah Alam had caused havoc, particularly in TTD Jaya, Kampung Kebun Bunga and Kampung Melayu Subang, affecting some 11,000 people and 3,000 houses.

After nearly a week, the affected residents are still not satisfied with government answers as to why there was no warning from the authorities and why their response to the flood was so slow.

Since Khir Toyo has claimed “developed state”  status for Selangor, he must demonstrate “developed state” mentality and should issue a White Paper on Sunday’s massive Shah Alam flood, pin-pointing all the causes and failures of the past, the extent of the damages sustained by the people of Shah Alam, and the short, medium and long-term measures to prevent a recurrence.

As Mentri Besar of a “developed state”, is he prepared to demonstrate the “culture of responsibility” of developed states and  bear full responsibility for the shocking government and infrastructure breakdown in the state capital resulting in the massive flood on Sunday?

(03/03/2006)