Armed Forces chief: Don't use floods to gain mileage
Armed Forces chief Affendi Buang has called on Malaysians to unite and pull their efforts together to save the nation amid devastating floods.
However, he warned that flood relief work should not be a clout chasing exercise.
"Don't do this for mileage, don't take advantage to say...
Armed Forces chief Affendi Buang has called on Malaysians to unite and pull their efforts together to save the nation amid devastating floods.
However, he warned that flood relief work should not be a clout chasing exercise.
"Don't do this for mileage, don't take advantage to say 'I did this'.
"It is about time for Malaysians to put our efforts together to save the nation, this is what we are supposed to do.
"Please. This is the time for it," he said at a press conference in Shah Alam today.
Affendi was commenting on challenges faced in mobilising flood rescue and relief efforts in the Klang Valley when the floods hit over the weekend.
While he did not target anyone or any specific incident, his comments came amid public anger at the government over their flood response.
Many on social media are taking issue with politicians who they believe to be chasing publicity rather than actually helping.
Issues include ministers and their photographers reportedly taking up space on boats that could instead be used to evacuate flood victims, and politicians plastering their faces on aid packages.
There has also been a tiff between Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and Putrajaya over control of the state National Security Council and the deployment of the Armed Forces to save flood victims.
Govt agencies must work together
Meanwhile, Affendi said flood relief efforts should not rely solely on the Armed Forces, and that all the various government agencies must work together to help the people.
"We can't work in silos anymore. Any efforts will be more effective if it is implemented with a whole of government approach to ensure that all agencies involved can be harnessed together and effectively.
"It is not the time for anyone to place blame to the point that it can affect and disrupt any efforts to evacuate those affected by this disaster.
"Any weakness in flood management, it is the joint responsibility of all agencies to find solutions to improve operations being carried out now and in the future," he said.
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