Last October, a video of Kota Kemuning state assemblyman Ganabatirau Veraman criticising a Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS) officer went viral.
According to Ganabatirau, the confrontation was prompted by a delay in the pump installation work which was supposed to have started in July 2021 and was expected to end in 2023.
A week after being informed that the pump was removed because it was faulty, the Selangor EXCO found that the pump had yet to be replaced. This was extremely concerning as Malaysia is currently in the midst of the monsoon season.
The Selangor state government EXCO then proceeded to chastise the officers for not taking the matter seriously.
The video however invited backlash against Ganabatirau as some were upset with him raising his voice at the officers and condemning the delays.
Even more disappointing, was the fact that political players had tried to distort the incident and label it as racially motivated.
In his defense, Ganabatirau states that he was only carrying out his duties after receiving complaints from residents regarding floods in several locations. In addition to the pump issues, the drainage at Taman Sri Muda, also needed more drains to channel water out.
Just two months after the incident took place, Malaysia experienced non-stop heavy rainfall for three days which resulted in one of the worst floods the country has seen in decades.
It is estimated that over 125,000 people in Malaysia have been affected by the floods and over 50 dead. The financial costs of the losses and damages could go up to over RM 20 billion ringgit.
Many who seemed to be more incensed at Ganabatirau’s outburst and not with the poor water management were forced to eat crow when many areas in Taman Sri Muda was completely submerged in water.
Once again, Ganabatirau’s video made the rounds on social media, but this time for completely different reasons as netizens praised him for foresight with the floods.
“We should always look at both sides before criticizing someone. Now it’s clear why he was so angry. He was angry because he cares about the lives of Malaysians. He was given a responsibility and he took it seriously” wrote one netizen.
Drone footage of Taman Sri Muda showed houses and cars that were completely destroyed by the floods and residents stranded on rooftops waiting for help.
The Kota Kemuning state assemblyman pleaded desperately for authorities to expedite help for the relocation of his constituents, numbering tens of thousands, who have no way of escaping flood waters.
Citizens have expressed grave disappointment with the government’s lackluster rescue efforts. There was little to no coordination, and a severe lack of boats to help get people out.
Ganabatirau and team have been working round the clock since the floods took place in December.
In addition to buying his own boats to rescue residents, the Kota Kemuning team has been active in relocation efforts, monitoring the cleaning up of the affected areas, providing food aid, and helping residents refurbish their homes through flood relief huts.
So what exactly can be learned from the massive floods and Malaysia’s lack of preparedness in dealing with natural calamities?
For starters we need better warning systems and for our communities to be trained in dealing with floods. There needs to be a complete evaluation of the drainage systems in the country especially in flood-prone areas.
It is also a “good lesson” for the Federal government to now focus their efforts on maintaining forests, building sustainable buildings and nurturing the public to adopt environmental friendly approaches in all areas of life.
Furthermore, when it comes to matters of public safety, pleasantries and red tape can take a back seat, what matters most is to ensure that the job gets done by any means necessary.
Bureaucratic delays which have become an accepted norm in Malaysian culture must be axed to protect the lives of the citizens.
