KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak was unable to visit the Sabah earthquake victims because he had already made a prior commitment to meet the King of Saudi Arabia, federal minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said today in defence of the prime minister.
The minister in the prime minister’s department said it was wrong for critics to accuse Najib of apathy just because he had gone to Saudi Arabia amid the earthquakes, arguing that the prime minister could not just cancel an official meeting.
“He had to meet the king of Saudi Arabia. We cannot just expect him to cancel it,” Shahidan told reporters when asked to comment on the matter.
Earlier today DAP lawmakers alleged Najib failed to prioritise his own people by preferring to fly to the middle east for a three -day trip instead of to Sabah after earthquakes hit the state on Saturday, blasting Najib as being “heartless”.
Shahidan, however, dismissed the allegation as baseless and said Najib always had Sabah on his mind even when he was in Saudi Arabia.
“He is going to fly to Sabah tomorrow… that was the first thing he had in mind,” he said.
On social media, the Najib administration is also taking brickbats from Malaysians angered by claims that the authorities were slow to respond to the earthquakes, particularly the search and rescue mission for climbers trapped on Mount Kinabalu.
Shahidan said such allegations were malicious as the SAR team, led by the National Disaster Committee, had worked really hard round the clock to get to the trapped climbers.
Sixteen people of mixed nationalities have died from the quake.
“We are doing our best. Our team works hard. They are the best and very capable,” he said.
Shahidan said critics should understand the problems facing the SAR team in executing the rescue mission before making allegations as it was unfair to label them as incompetent when they have worked so hard to save lives.
The minister said the government will move a sympathy motion to discuss the disaster in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow, where Barisan Nasional lawmakers are expected to clear the air about allegations surrounding the SAR team’s performance.
If passed, MPs from both sides are expected to debate the matter in the evening.
Yesterday, an Australian trekker, who was among those who made it off the mountain safely, had lashed out at Malaysia’s emergency response, calling it a “farce”.
In an interview with Australia’s ABC News, Vee Jin Dumlao alleged of shambolic organisation by local rescuers, whom she said idled and ate food meant for victims while the native guides did most of the rescuing.
She also claimed that some of those who died might have been saved if the rescue helicopters had been sent when weather cleared up on Friday evening.
Fire and Rescue Services Department Noordin Pauzi yesterday said that unpredictable weather conditions and SAR procedure which was in play on the day delayed the team.
