DAP has urged the government to cancel its planned Malaysia Day celebrations tomorrow over the ongoing floods in Sabah, which also saw landslides that killed one person.
Sabah DAP chief Phoong Jin Zhe said the current situation has also led to widespread power and water cuts, particularly on the east coast of the Bornean state.
He said that instead of spending resources on the Malaysia Day celebrations, this should go towards those affected by the situation in Sabah.
“These cascading crises demand urgent and undivided attention from all levels of government. In order to truly honour the spirit of Malaysia Day, these disasters must be recognised as a national-level crisis.
“This is not the time for celebration. It is time for mobilisation. The people of Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, and Sabah’s east coast are in dire need of shelter, food, clean water, medical assistance, and immediate restoration of basic utilities,” he said in a statement.
Phoong, the state industrial development minister, pointed out that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had called off a National Day eve countdown last year out of respect for the victim of a sinkhole incident at Jalan Masjid India.
He said the Selangor government had also cancelled its state-level Aidilfitri celebration this year due to the Putra Heights gas pipeline blaze.
“These actions reflected leadership that placed compassion above ceremony, and the same principle should apply in Sabah today. We urge both state and federal agencies, including local councils and welfare departments, to intensify their efforts to assist affected families.
“Additional allocation of resources, deployment of personnel, and fast-tracked emergency support are urgently required to minimise further hardship.
“Calling off the Malaysia Day celebrations underscores that the most meaningful way to mark this national occasion is by protecting lives, prioritising the welfare of the people, and restoring essential services,” the Luyang assemblyman said.
According to the state disaster management committee, there were 415 flood victims in Beaufort and Penampang as of 8am.
