Public upset with govt’s incompetency in handling flood incident, #KerajaanGagal trending again

19 Dec 2021

By Farah Salim

KUALA LUMPUR: The public has taken to twitter to express disappointment with the ‘iconic’ #KerajaanGagal hashtag over the government’s passivity and incompetency to tackle the flash floods that had occurred yesterday due to continuous downpour since Friday.

It was reported that severe flooding in Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka has displaced more than 21,000 people from their homes.

Twitter netizens regarded that the government’s slogan ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ is merely rhetorical with little executions as in difficult times like this, the rakyat are the ones to first offer assistance to the flood victims.

“The Malaysian Government can build the second tallest building in the world but can never solve a yearly reoccurring flash flood issue,” said a Twitter user.

Another one said: “The (flood) warning was given by the metrological department days before and you failed to prepare!”

Some of them were enraged that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob only made an announcement to address the issue at midnight when the flooding had been occurring since noon.

In his press conference, he mentioned that the flood situation in Selangor is ‘kelam-kabut sikit’ (a rushed matter) unlike in other flood-prone states.

“People are climbing their roof since noon. You addressed this at 11pm? Just resign if you work as if you are a surau committee member. You are a prime minister. You and your whole sloth cabinet are useless,” said a user.

“’Kelam-kabut sikit’ are people, senior citizens with health issues, babies, infants, pregnant ladies. Stranded of roofs for hours, with no help. Ismail, this is no time for dad jokes despite your ‘keluarga malaysia’ rethoric,” another comment sighted.

Meanwhile, another one stated: “What kelam-kabut? You and your team had all the time in the world to plan this. Where is your ability to plan and foresight? As a rakyat, I am not okay with your explanation here. A lot of people were sleeping, stuck in their car last night. No one came to get them!”

Some photos illustrating the flood situation shared on social media showed that there were vehicles trapped by floodwaters and that several main roads were submerged.

It was reported that some 20,000 flood victims had been evacuated from their flooded homes to relief centres by noon.