Human Resources Minister M Saravanan’s cold and heartless response to the people’s anger against the government for holding the general election during the flood season of “let them be angry” shows how out of touch the current BN government is. This callous response of “let the rakyat be angry” reminds the classic remark by the French Queen Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution who when told that the people do not have enough bread to eat then said, “let them eat cake”.
Such a callous and dismissive attitude towards the possible loss of lives and property during the flood season has conclusively proven that the current Federal government is not fit to rule when it does not care about the people but only about retaining power at all costs. Saravanan then denied that elections will be held during the flood season because the Meteorological Department said that it might flood after November 15 until January next year. Saravanan added that should Parliament be dissolved tomorrow then the elections will be held before the first or second week of November.
Saravanan appears to have forgotten the reminder issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) on 29 September that the country will go through a monsoon transition phase starting October 3 until the end of November. MetMalaysia states that during this monsoon transition phase, the country will encounter thunderstorms that could potentially trigger flash floods.
Universiti Putra Malaysia scientist Haliza Abdul Rahman, a climate change expert, has suggested that the 15th general election be held after February, warning that the floods situation during the monsoon season at the year-end might be worse than in 2021. This is in line with the Meteorological Department’s forecast that heavy rain will be expected in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang from November to December while Johor, Sabah, and Sarawak from December to January next year.
If selfish BN politicians from UMNO and Saravanan feel that they know more than experts, and are willing to risk the lives and properties of Malaysians to achieve their selfish political interests, then voters should teach them a lesson for stubbornly insisting on holding elections during the flood season. Worse, the government has to date failed to state their flood contingency plans during an election and whether any election held will have to be postponed in the event of floods.
Even the US Embassy has issued a warning to its citizens about floods in Malaysia. Clearly the US Embassy is more responsible than our Malaysian government in looking after our citizens respectively. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri should learn from the deep concern about the flood situation by the King who visited the National Flood Forecasting And Warning Centre in Ampang today.