By Teresa Kok, Seputeh MP

(Pic from Kuala Lumpur Post)

With his insurance argument demolished by PIAM, Najib owes Malaysians, especially the flood victims an explanation why the government is reluctant to declare an emergency to deal with the flood

Despite repeated calls from the DAP that a state of emergency should be declared to deal with the nation’s worst flood, the Prime Minister has still not given a satisfactory explanation as to why the federal government is reluctant to do so.

Najib’s reluctance is indeed puzzling after his insurance argument has been demolished by the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM).

Five days ago, in response to criticisms that the federal government was caught unprepared for the nation’s worst flood, the National Security Council has defended Putrajaya’s relief efforts by claiming that the floods which led to the displacement of more than 200,000 people in the East Coast states are abnormal and has also caused major obstacles and problems to the relief efforts.

There is no doubt that the floods are abnormal but the fact remains that the federal government was certainly caught unprepared for flood of such scale.

And there is the additional question of why the federal government is handling an abnormal flood with normal measures when a declaration of emergency is required to fully and quickly mobilize government resources to deal with the flood?

On December 25, when attending the Christmas tea event hosted by the Christian Federation of Malaysia at Subang Jaya, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin told reporters that there was no need for an emergency to be declared yet unless a total breakdown in electricity or essential supplies occurs or if the number of evacuees in an area increases to over hundreds of thousands.

Muhyiddin’s explanation was not satisfactory as the necessary conditions mentioned by him were in fact already there.

Then last Saturday, Prime Minister Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak gave a different reason. He said for the time being there was no necessity for the federal government to declare a disaster emergency for Kelantan, after taking into consideration the implications involved.

“If the government announces an emergency, the implications that will arise include insurance companies being absolved from paying compensation… and compensation arising from damage to properties and vehicles is enormous” he was quoted as saying.

But Najib’s reason has been proven to be baseless as PIAM has three days ago confirmed insurance firms will not be absolved of liability in paying out compensation for flood claims filed if a state of emergency were declared. PIAM said its member companies must process the claims so long as flood is an “insured peril”.

Can Najib deny that he has been wrongly advised on the insurance issue?

With his insurance argument demolished by PIAM, Najib owes Malaysians, especially the flood victims an explanation why the government is reluctant to declare an emergency to deal with the flood.