Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has returned from his visit to Ethiopia, South Africa and Kenya. (Facebook pic)
NAIROBI: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he has been keeping a close eye on the flood situation despite being away on a three-nation tour in Africa.
Anwar said he was updated twice a day and that the government had instructed all agencies, including the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), to do whatever was necessary to assist the flood victims.
“(The priority is) the immediate measures, immediate action, to help those affected by the flood,” he told reporters here.
He said reports and meetings on preparations for the floods were held months in advance, chaired by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on an almost weekly basis.
Zahid is also chairman of Nadma.
“Nadma has taken measures, relief centres have been opened. So, I think we are doing our best,” Anwar added.
On flood mitigation measures, the prime minister said plenty of funds had been allocated but that efforts were sometimes delayed by issues related to land, contracts, and tenders.
“But it is ongoing. You can see for example, some areas in Kelantan where the flood mitigation project has been completed, you can see the substantial reduction of impact and losses,” he said.
Anwar landed at Kompleks Bunga Raya, KLIA, at around 9.20am today.
He had embarked on an official trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before heading to Johannesburg, South Africa, for a working visit and to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit. He then travelled to Nairobi, Kenya, for a brief official visit.
Earlier today, it was reported that the number of evacuees had surged to 18,470 as the flood situation in West Malaysia worsened through the night.
Kelantan remained the worst-hit state with 9,962 victims at 40 relief centres in Kota Bharu, Tumpat, Bachok and Pasir Puteh.
