Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) chief executive officer Tricia Yeoh said in a statement today that such a council would encourage better coordination among the federal, state and local governments in post-flood recovery efforts.

“While there already exists the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), and the federal government is cooperating with state governments in efforts to repair houses and public infrastructure, a formal structure such as a federal-state flood crisis council would allow for systematic decision-making.

“This is the time for the federal, state, and even local governments to come together and coordinate their efforts in a cohesive manner.

“Time is of the essence in any disaster management situation, and state and local governments are well-placed and in the best position to respond to local requirements in the most effective and efficient manner,” she said.

Yeoh also called for the flood crisis to be debated in Parliament and for the minister in charge of the portfolio to answer questions on the matter.

“Similar to the MoU that was signed between the government and the opposition, this is the time for MPs from all sides to come together in a bipartisan manner to debate what is essentially a national emergency.

“The issue must be given priority and debated immediately, in the interest of public knowledge of what the government is doing to address the situation, and based on the principles of transparency and accountability.”

Yeoh also suggested that the evaluation of environmental impact reports on development and infrastructure projects take into account drainage systems and the impact of deforestation.

“Efforts must be taken to understand the impact of climate change on the country, and the government together with researchers and the community must prepare our infrastructure and allocate budgets to mitigate risks.

“Malaysia can no longer take lightly the devastation that is brought about by natural disasters. A tragedy such as this must be better mitigated in the future through a coordinated response by all levels of government and a thorough assessment of how climate change has accelerated the negative impact on our weather system.

“There must be overall disaster preparedness, especially at this time of the year when heavy rain and flash floods are to be expected – even in the Klang Valley,” she said.