GEORGE TOWN: The Federal government has never stopped giving allocation to the state government for flood prevention and mitigation projects despite Penang being ruled by DAP since 2008.
State Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said the Federal government had disbursed some RM2 billion for such projects in the state since 2006.
He said under the 10th Malaysia Plan, between 2006 and 2010, RM1.493 billion, including RM34 million, was allocated for cleaning and treating the waters of Sungai Pinang.
He added that in the 11th Malaysia Plan, between 2011 and 2015, a total of RM404.5 million was allocated while another RM150 million was approved for the Sungai Pinang flood mitigation project last November.
"The Federal government has never once abandoned Penang, and has spent RM2 billion for flood prevention projects alone since 2006.
"What about the Penang government and the local authorities? How much have they spent for flood prevention in the state since coming into power in 2008?" he asked.
While it is undeniable that flash floods are nothing new in Penang, Zainal pointed out that the flash floods were now happening more frequent than ever.
"Now, each time the clouds turn dark, the Penang folks will be worried, and fear of flash floods if it rains heavily," he added.
Zainal also questioned why the Penang government was willing to spend RM305 million for studies into projects which the people does not need immediately.
It was previously reported that the state government had spent RM305 million for the feasibility study, detailed design and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the proposed Penang undersea tunnel and three paired roads projects.
"Why is the state government not spending the amount of money to resolve the flood problems, which is of greater importance?
"What Penang needs now is a Flood Prevention Master Plan more than the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP). What is the purpose for road networks and improved land infrastructure if the roads are often submerged in floodwaters?" he further questioned.
Zainal also said that they welcomed state executive council member Jagdeep Singh Deo's willingness to work with the Federal Government to resolve the flooding woes
"We thanked him for his awareness that finger pointing and blaming others (whenever flash floods occur) will not benefit the people involved.
"The Penang government can no longer blame the weather and rainfall each time flash floods hit the state. It has to be mindful that many new areas are beginning to experience flooding. May be, it has got to do with property development, uncontrolled clearing of hill lands and coastal reclamation," he stressed.
Meanwhile, former Penang Island Municipal Council secretary Datuk Lakhbir Singh Chahl said there was a need to develop disaster reduction programme and formulate an actionplan to mitigate the effects of the constant floodings of late.
At the same time, Lakhbir, who is the founding secretary-general of the regional network of local authorities for Asia and the pacific (CITYNET), said there was also a need for the authorities to create an advance warning system.
"Taking the recent flash floods as an example, even if there is one such actionplan, I don't think it is obviously conspicuous.
"And certainly, there is an absence of early warning system to alert the people of the flash floods to minimise its effects and damages," he added.
Lakhbir said some infrastructure also needed to be improved such as the existing drainage system and the participation of the people should be further enhanced
"Towards this end, the electronic media and social media are important platforms to disseminate information," he noted.
He also stressed that while climate change has been attributed to the perennial flash floods, rapid development further aggravated the situation.