Warisan has fired back at Sabah PKR after it was accused of holding political events amid the floods in various parts of the state.
Warisan secretary-general Loretto Padua Jr claimed that the party’s machinery was among the first to respond to the floods, helping displaced victims.
He said even party president Shafie Apdal was on the ground to observe the situation in Penampang and Papar.
Loretto said Warisan members had acted as first responders even during the floods in 2018, going down to help victims without being told by the party leadership.
“This is very different from the Sabah PKR divisions that are not trained as first responders despite forming the state government with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.
“If Sabah PKR divisions were already prepared for this situation, then the central PKR leadership would not have needed to issue a memo ordering division leaders to go to the ground to help the flood victims,” he said in a statement.
He said Sabah PKR’s machinery was only deployed 48 hours after the floods began, adding that this was too late.
He also said the PKR state chapter cannot avoid the fact that it has collectively failed to resolve flooding in the state, as a part of the state administration.
Earlier today, Sabah PKR said Warisan was prioritising its political agenda over the people’s welfare for holding political events despite the floods.
It pointed out that the machinery of the federal and state governments have been focused on helping the victims of floods and landslides over the past week.
As of 5pm today, there were 1,507 flood victims in 15 relief centres in Penampang, Membakut and Papar.
Thirteen people, including seven children, have died from landslides triggered by torrential rain in Sabah.
