KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — The Islamist party governing Kelantan beseeched Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today to call for an emergency parliamentary sitting to deal with rising flood waters that threatens to immobilise the northeast state.
PAS leaders have also pleaded with their DAP and PKR allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) led Penang and Selangor for aid as the number of flood victims increases; over 90,000 people have been forced to evacuate their flooded homes in five states with Kelantan recording over 32,000 alone, the highest nationwide.
Four people died in Kelantan since December 16, according to reports by state news agency Bernama.
“I ask that the PM would call for an emergency Parliamentary sitting to discuss the best course of action to manage the floods that be a threat to the whole country,” PAS federal lawmaker Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli said in a statement sent via text.
The Kuala Krai MP stressed that the flood situation in his constituency was at a critical level as the waters did not look to be receding any time soon, adding that the Fire and Rescue Department, the Civil Defence Department and the volunteers could no longer contain the situation.
He said lost communication had hampered rescue efforts and urged the authorities to rope in the Malaysian Armed Forces to conduct a large-scale operation to save more people from the floods.
According to Bernama, the floods have affected nine of the 10 districts in Kelantan: Gua Musang, Jeli, Kuala Krai, Machang, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Tanah Merah, Tumpat and Kota Baharu.
Bernama also reported 23 roads in eight districts closed to traffic, with 17 barred to all vehicles and six, to light vehicles.
The floods in Kelantan have claimed four lives since December 16, the news wire reported.
However, the prime minister is currently out of the country on a holiday. The Washington Post reported Najib to have played golf with US President Barack Obama in Honolulu, Hawaii yesterday.
In a separate statement today, PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa reached out to his PKR and DAP allies for help.
“I have contacted Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali to send aid as a sign of solidarity. Thank god the Selangor government agreed and the details will probably be announced within these few days.
“I am also trying to contact the Penang Mentri Besar for the same reasons, but he is still out of the country,” he said, ending his statement asking Malaysians to also send aid and to keep the victims in their prayers.
The call for help comes amid tension among Pakatan Rakyat allies as PAS insists on implementing hudud in Kelantan.
It has been reported that the Kelantan PAS government will convene a special assembly sitting on Monday to table and pass amendments to the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code Enactment II.
The move is in preparation for PAS’s plan to table in Parliament a private member’s bill to amend the Federal Constitution, which would subsequently allow Kelantan to implement hudud law in the state.
This is despite vocal resistance from PAS’s allies in PR, and the stand-off has led to predictions from politicians within that pact that the controversy could potentially cause a break-up.
Last night, the son of PAS’s spiritual leader suggested that the worsening floods in Kelantan was a sign of “Allah’s wrath” and that the state government must continue with its bid to enforce hudud amid strong opposition.
Pasir Mas MP Nik Mohamad Abduh, the son of revered PAS leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, wrote on his Facebook page last night that the floods were intended to remind Muslims to return to Allah’s path, and necessity in implementing the Islamic penal code in the state.
