Shah Alam candidates focus on floods as storms loom

GE15 | Resolving flood woes for Shah Alam folk is a top priority for the four candidates contesting the Parliament seat there, as the Meteorology Department (MetMalaysia) forecasts thunderstorms from today onward.

BN’s Hizatul Isham Abdul Jalil (above) warns about the possibility of a worst-case scenario where floods force the election’s postponement.

Others contesting Shah Alam want to synergise government agencies to work together and expedite mitigation works.

A postponement, Isham added, would lead to the government declaring a state of emergency.

“My election machinery, which is currently strategically located across Shah Alam, can switch to become flood machinery to help victims,” he said.

Gerakan Tanah Air’s (GTA) Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali was also looking at quick solutions including training residents to be prepared to save themselves and ensure sufficient food.

Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Dr Afif Bahardin promised to resolve the flood issue as he had done for his incumbent constituency of Seberang Jaya in Penang.

The candidates took turns sharing their plans in an Astro Awani live broadcast from Shah Alam, last night.

This week, flash floods swept into homes and inundated roads in the Shah Alam, Kota Raja, Klang, and Kapar constituencies and candidates paused their election campaigns to visit victims.

Those are all Pakatan Harapan strongholds with candidates who won with majorities ranging from 16,000 votes in Kapar and 78,000 in Klang.

Floods fresh in voters’ minds

However, there may not be a repeat of such large margins this election as there are more candidates contesting this time – Shah Alam’s four is the least, while the others have seven to eight candidates.

Also in question is how voters will decide when they go to the polls on Nov 19 with flood woes fresh in their minds and if incumbent parties will be favoured while rival candidates talk of years of monies spent and unresolved flood mitigation efforts.

MetMalaysia forecasts thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds in most parts of Peninsula Malaysia, Sarawak, and parts of Sabah from today until polling day.

These are disturbing reminders of the flood crisis that hit the country last December when 32,044 victims were evacuated into 162 shelters across nine districts in Selangor including Shah Alam.

In the meantime, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari reportedly declared the state was prepared to tackle the floods and that the Fire and Rescue Department identified clogged drains as the cause of flash floods.

Following the flash floods this week, anti-Harapan propaganda about floods in Shah Alam started circulating on social media.

When asked about the Section U10 flooding, Harapan’s candidate Azli Yusof said he will consult with the respective state executive councillors to understand how a nearby hillside development led to flash floods in U10.

“But the issue must be addressed immediately and effectively by first identifying the root cause(s) of the flood and then providing mitigating actions and preventive measures,” he said.

Flood victims are minority in constituency

Azli, who is defending the seat for Harapan, defended the coalition’s state government’s handling of the floods.

He said the Selangor government has budgeted RM100 million toward short-term flood mitigation projects in the state and they were ongoing.

Azli hopes to retain the seat that was won by fellow Amanah party member Khalid Samad for three terms.

It was also reported that a RM7 million river dredging project had already commenced in the Klang river and was expected to take five years to complete.

Azli said the short-term projects addressed building and upkeep of drainage, water retention ponds, and bunds while for the long term, he would ensure there is a masterplan to address the effects of climate change on the city.

Areas in the Shah Alam electoral constituency affected by flash floods this week were sections 17, 24, U10, and Padang Jawa while Section 25 falls under the Kota Raja constituency.

These are flood-prone areas where, according to polling district data, 20,573 voters cast their votes in GE14 in 2018 which makes up 12 percent of the 165,000 voters that candidates are hoping to capture this election.

Closing economic disparities through commerce

Addressing the cost of living and economic disparities were issues all candidates stated as their next priority because a large Shah Alam population are bottom 40 and middle 40 percent of income earners (B40 and M40).

The candidates ran through some plans in brief including upgrading and invigorating facilities in the city to promote commerce, an e-commerce hub for young entrepreneurs, relaxing licensing criteria for night market traders, and rerouting tourist buses to stop in Shah Alam.

They all stressed the importance of modernising commercial spaces that would encourage more youth, who will make up more than 13,000 voters this election, to showcase their talents and businesses.

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