Coordinate with MPs, Wan Fayhsal tells flood aid givers

Opposition MPs have called for all quarters involved in flood aid efforts in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah to involve the elected representatives of the affected areas.

Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said this is to prevent wastage.

“We, elected representatives, are more aware of the situation on the ground.

“Sometimes, providing aid is good because we want visibility and mileage. However, when we give excessive supplies like food, it ends up being wasted.

“So, I urge all parties, including the government, to contact us. If we are not directly involved, I think a lot of resources that could help the people will be wasted,” he said during a press conference in Parliament today.

Earlier, Wan Fayhsal (above, centre) was criticised on social media for allegedly providing paltry aid compared to influencer and entrepreneur Khairul Aming.

“One clearly works hard and sincerely to help flood victims. The other is doing the bare minimum for a bit of content,” said a social media user on X.

Wan Fayhsal had claimed that such allegations were slander while posting a picture of him standing in front of heaps of rice bags.

Give us direct funding

The Bersatu supreme council member also urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to allocate direct funding to MPs to expedite aid distribution to the people.

“We appeal to the prime minister to channel direct funding to MPs facing severe flooding.

“If we do not provide aid to MPs, issues that could be resolved within a week may drag on for a month due to bureaucracy.

“MPs are facilitators to help people on the ground. If MPs are sidelined, how can they assist the people? This will tarnish the government’s reputation. This is not the time for politics. We want fairness,” he added.

Arau MP Shahidan Kassim questioned the government’s regulations regarding the evacuation of flood victims.

“Back when I was the minister who established Nadma (National Disaster Management Agency), we had set a policy allowing people to evacuate two days before the flood, or at least a day before.

“But now, I see in some places that evacuation only happens after the flood occurs, and the police have to come and inspect first before people can move. What kind of regulation is this?” he asked.

“So, I want to say that requiring police approval before evacuation is wrong. We should be able to evacuate two days before the flood,” he said.

Floods had wreaked havoc across multiple states over the weekend.

While the number of victims displaced by the floods is on the decline, more than 90,000 people are still in evacuation centres.

Floods: Khairul Aming hopes for ongoing donations to collection centre

YOURSAY | M'sians always step up in times of disaster

PM calls for private sector to help with flood aid

Pakistan PM calls Anwar to offer support over floods

Govt mulls Japanese proposal from 1990s to address flood woes

Death toll from flooding rises to seven