BAYAN LEPAS: The Penang Front Party (PFP) is considering taking legal action against the DAP-led Penang government over its alleged failure to solve chronic flooding in the state.
Its chairman, Datuk Patrick Ooi, told newsmen that PFP is in the midst of collecting reports and information on flood victims throughout the state.
"We will submit the compiled report to the National Security Council (MKN), and if no action is taken, we will proceed with legal action.
"The state government promised that flood mitigation projects would solve the flood (problem) and allocated millions for it – yet they failed to do so. They should be held responsible for this," Ooi said at a press conference here today.
Penang came to a standstill after almost 100 locations were inundated by floodwaters and three major landslides were reported following a heavy downpour last Friday.
Ooi said that the state government is supposed to set up a special committee, headed by the state secretary, if more than two districts are affected by floods.
"Even that didn't happen. Why?" he asked.
Meanwhile, Penang Pas has lodged a police report against the state government over the same matter.
Its Tanjong division chief Yaakob Omar claimed the state had not only failed to address the flashflood problems but had also made the situation worse in the past few years.
"Just look at the hills, we can see many have been cleared to make way for development and that had only resulted in more floods.
"In the last general elections, they promised to conduct flood mitigation project and also maintain the greenery in the state but what is the situation today?
As a Penangite and also a flood victim, Yaakob said he was upset and displeased with the sweet promises made by Penang government.
He lodged the report with 10 others at the Northeast police headquarters today.
Meanwhile, Yaakob said rampant development in low lying areas had resulted in the massive floodings last week.
"They should have built a proper drainage system before allowing such development projects. Their lackadaisical attitude over drainage capacity had led to this." he added.