VIDEO | 3.27 mins

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today questioned why the public did not slam the opposition for posing for photographs in flood waters.

He said this in response to criticism against Putrajaya for sticking pictures of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and himself on rice packs that were delivered as aid to flood victims.

"If we talk about politicising the floods, there are opposition leaders who take picture with (flood) water up to their chest, what is that for?

"We don’t even know if it is photoshopped, but no one comments about that,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya, reported KiniTV .

Ismail was asked if the government had politcised the disaster with the stickers.

He appeared to be referring to a photograph of PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu kneeling in flood waters that has been circulating on Facebook.

Ismail said regardless of the stunts, everyone had their own method of helping flood victims.

He also reiterated his text message to Malaysiakini yesterday that what mattered most is the aid reaching those who need them.

‘Do it your way’

“Go ahead, everyone have their way (in helping) during the flood. There are some who photoshop to make themselves more popular or dive (to make) water at the knee level become chest level.

“There are those who do not care about pictures and just want to deliver goods. Everyone has their way so long as the goods reach (those who need them),” he said.

Ismail said he did not want to “comment much” about the merits of the stickers but stressed they did not cause a delay in the delivery of aid.

“Victims don’t care if you jump like tarzan, what is important is that the food arrives, their children and wife do not go hungry,” he said.

He urged everyone to be united to assist flood victims and to put aside their political differences.

“I even instructed my disaster squad to deliver aid to PAS’ traditional religious schools.

“The teacher may be from PAS, but the students do not have political parties, we cannot possibly victimise them,” he said.

He said his ministry and its agencies are channeling aid worth a total RM1.82 million to the eight affected states.

This include rice, dry food, baby napkins, mosquito coils and daily essential needs, Bernama reported him as saying.

He said flood victims with loans from Agrobank or Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (Tekun Nasional) can approach the bank or Tekun to reschedule payments.

Special sale

The ministry will also hold a special sale of fish and vegetables at farmers' markets in affected states to ease their burdens.

The goods will be sold at half the market price, he said.

"Cabbage, which is RM2.19 per kg (before the flood), will be sold at RM1.10 per kg, while red chili is RM7 per kg, from RM13 per kg before the flood," he told reporters.

There is still enough fish despite the floods, but the ministry will import frozen fish to maintain supply.

The National Fishermen Association will also buy fish from the private sector so that the supply can last for one to three months, he added.

Two hundred tonnes of vegetables will also be sent to flood-affected states every month, he said.

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