An MCA leader has criticised Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for failing to address the recurring issue of floods in the state.

“Lim instead complains about the weather, blames heavy rains and floods in Kedah gushing down Penang's rivers, overflowing the river banks in the state on the way to the sea.

“Apart from denying that excessive hillslope development had contributed towards the flood, what lessons have been learnt from the 120 floods that reveal DAP's inability to cope with disasters?” asked MCA publicity bureau chairperson Chai Kim Sen.

He was responding to Penang exco for local government, traffic management and flood mitigation Chow Kon Yeow revealing that 119 floods occurred in Penang from 2013 to October this year.

Chai said in addition to the massive floods which inundated Penang earlier this month, there have been 120 floods in the past four years.

The MCA leader said while the chief minister has apologised to Penang residents on the need for large-scale relief works, he cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that in the four years under DAP's administration, the state experienced 120 flash floods both severe and minor.

“Can he claim his experience is not sufficient? Will his 'apology' ensure flash floods will not strike again? He should no longer rely on popularity and populism to shirk his responsibility,” he added.

Chai also noted how Lim had sought Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's assistance and left it to the federal government to commence evacuation and relief work.

“A question that needs to be resolved is that if the state security council was activated. Members of this council consist of the state's governor, exco, Penang state finance department, Penang fire and rescue department, Penang health department as well as the state's civil defence department, marine department northern region, Penang drainage and irrigation department, state legal advisor's office and other state departments, whereby a total of 24 state agencies/departments expressly provide a mechanism so that crisis relief missions can be coordinated smoothly.

“If the DAP-helmed Penang state government cannot even get this basic mechanism to move, how will it be able to deal with disaster relief work effectively?

“It is undeniable that various states have been hit by floods, but the chief minister (Lim) has blamed others when disaster struck. Penang is the sole state to do so,” he added.