Screenshots: 'Red Alert'? YBs on remote control

It was described as the worst floods since 1969 for the Johoreans, coded "Red Alert".

And now, as flood water subsides, rakyat's voices sprout.

Here's a batch of pictures which I received from my reader, showing Kota Tinggi, Johor, in deep waters on December 21. The reader said: "Jeff, can you please "plaster" these photos BIG on your website for all to see? Very malu."

The pictures were held back for more than a week as I searched the public domain for the whereabouts of our leaders, from the PM, DPM to their Ministers and down to the local councillors.

Scan the online media and you will hear people asking where their Yang Berhormats had gone to when they were in the deepest end of water.

PM Abdullah Badawi was enroute to Perth hours after he had come back from Turkey and the Mediterranean region on an official trip. He said he monitored the floods from afar.

There are a total of seven federal ministers from Johor. Where have they been? My readers and I could only traced some of them, perhaps you could help if you are in the know.

Pagoh MP cum Minister Muhyiddin Yassin only showed up days after floods hit.

Kota Tinggi MP cum Minister Syed Hamid Albar was not seen in the papers during the floods.

Tanjung Piai MP cum Minister Ong Ka Ting was on holidays overseas and switched on the 'remote control' by releasing press statements via local aides.

Sembrong MP cum Minister Hishammuddin Hussein?

Pasir Gudang MP cum Minister Khaled Nordin?

Labis MP cum Minister Chua Soi Lek?

Penggerang MP cum Minister Azalina Othman Said?

How about the state exco members and state assemblymen?

It was also reported that about 40 members of the Kluang Municipal Council were on a trip to Shanghai from December 22, five days after the massive flood hit Johor.

Journalist-blogger James Wong Wing On told Malaysiakini Chinese Edition that the value system of the YBs have changed. They have gone elitist and are not willing to understand people's sorrows, he said.

Meanwhile, DPM is now on leave since January 5, reportedly to manage his children's studies overseas.

Aids to rehabilitation

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that, some 20 days after the floods, all volunteers comprising individuals and representatives from non-governmental organisations and the corporate sector are expected to be deployed to flood-hit areas in Johor at the end of this week.

Screenshots reader Captain (R) Azhar, who organised a relief convoy of 4x4 volunteers to Segamat, Johor, in December, has some updates:

I am organising a second trip down south with more 4x4 volunteers this coming week end. We're planning to deliver personal donations to the families that are still in the flood evacuation centre at Batu Pahat district.

I understand from the MRCS rep at Batu Pahat that the water covering some of the villages around BP has not subsided and there are still thousands living in the evacuation centres.

The first collection point at Puchong:

Norman Extremeworks Sdn Bhd,
No.2, Jln Sri Puchong 2B,
Tmn Sri Puchong, Bt 12,
47100 Puchong, Selangor.
Tel : 0380684044, 0380683044

The second collection point is at Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. I will post the contacts here once I get the permission from the volunteer there to do so.

The first trip down to Parit Pulai, Segamat was done safely and so we are attempting another now, hopefully better prepared.

The second collection point.

Chef On Wheels
Wisma WIM,
7, Jalan Abang Haji Openg,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
60000 KUALA LUMPUR
Tel : 0377268907

There are some photos from the first trip at http://redcrescent.org.my

Hmmm, another point.

This time round, the catch phrase is personal donations. The response for last trip was pretty poor, probably attributed to the christmas, new year and hari raya haji holidays.

Please volunteer.

Thanks.

RM600 million Umno handouts vs. RM500 million repayable loan fund

Two days ago, the PM announced that the government is setting ap a RM500 million fund to help businesses affected by the floods, but Minister Khaled Nordin was quick to point out that the fund was not meant for compensating losses.

The RM500 million fund is to be set up by Bank Negara Malaysia, and it's called the Special Relief Guarantee Facility. The loan fund is available from January 8 until March 31 this year, aimed at providing immediate relief to the affected businesses.

No collateral is required to obtain the fund with the banks expected to give approval within two weeks. Its lending rates would be below market rates at 2.5%.

This RM500 repayable loan fund stands in acute contrast to the RM600 million handouts that was passed down to each Umno division, at RM3 million each, during the last Umno general assembly.

Had any bit of this big money, especially those routed to Johor, gone to floods relief and rehabilitation?

Comments

so johorean..now you know who to vote in the next GE!!!!

if you still do not know...then stop complaining..and get on with life!

Posted by: taiko_besar | January 10, 2007 09:32 AM

hey jeff,

Why is www.Corruptlist.com offline?

can you tell me which government is behind it?

Posted by: TaTT | January 10, 2007 10:08 AM

Dear Johorean,
Vote for monkey, you get monkey. You deserve the YB you vote for.

Since Malaysia DPM REJECT foreign aid, so Singapore cannot channel any rescue resources(recue boat,helicopter,etc) to help. And local mainstream media failed to report Singapore NGO aid that reach the scene ASAP.
Oh yes, don't forget about BN politikus aid show that distribute impractical food such as rice.

Posted by: moo_t | January 10, 2007 10:30 AM

Johorean, don't cry now. You voted for it. Wait till they screw up the MSC project in Johor then you can cry again.

Posted by: GreenJellyBean | January 10, 2007 10:39 AM

Do not blame the government for natural tragedies. If there is a flood, make sure you are fully covered by insurance for the loss. Allianze insurance saw the opportunity and ordered all its branches in johore, and melaka to assist flood victims.
If you are not covered, then tough luck. Thank your lucky stars that your family survived the ordeal and restart your life. Next time, ponder this experience and build a floating house like what the Dutch are contemplating (They too suffer occasional floods).
Or listen to feng Shui experts who will tell you to buy properties on a hill facing southwards.(To get the sunshine in, if you live in Beijing.)
Pull yourself together and forget about government asistance.

Posted by: sydput | January 10, 2007 10:44 AM

Want the politicians to be around??? What for, it is only for their political mileage only? Just pray hard and hope that the next floor happens during election time. Then your all will see the difference.

Posted by: AverageJoe | January 10, 2007 11:06 AM

It is amazing that our dear PM is more concern about officiating the opening of a Nasi Kandar store in Perth for his brother rather than flying back immediately to tend for our devastated countrymen. Yes it was publish in the newspaper here and i have the cutting for it.

FYI, the food in that store SUCKS! the rice is not cooked well, the roti is basically well from the packet, the waiter do not even know what is nasi kandar! I'm definitely never going back there again.

Posted by: nUtZ` | January 10, 2007 11:31 AM

If you agree with racist remarks in general assemblies, vote for them.

If you agree with raising the toll, costs of fuel and the rates of utilities, vote for them.

If you agree with ministers and MPs who do not even show up at relief centers to support families who are suffering due to the floods, vote for them.

If you agree with assemblymen who build castles in low cost housing areas, vote for them.

If you agree with MPs who do nothing when religious councils raid hotels and corner foreigners, demanding for a marriage certificate, vote for them.

Posted by: aput83 | January 10, 2007 11:35 AM

sydput..who is blaming the government for the flood??? anyone??? i don't know...so far I have not heard anyone blaming the government for the flood...

ppl are just saying this government don't even care to help the flood victims...where are they?? busy holidaying somewhere else...attending to personal matters...when the ppl is suffering down there...

Posted by: taiko_besar | January 10, 2007 12:12 PM

while other states was being flooded, we celeb at titiwangsa because of that ferriswheel. did the pm had a visit to the flood site?

there will be donations coming in but who is the one who manage it? is it equally distributed? will they ever tell us how they are distributed and is there any transparency?

there is a lot of money for the tsunami but then, i do not think what they had, is wat we give.

wat they did n said is rite, so we cant 'condemn' ler or else.... hmm.....reminds me of which era in china...hmmmm....

Posted by: lovehurts | January 10, 2007 12:30 PM

taiko_besar,
No local media blaming gahmen for the flood doesn't mean NOBODY blame them.

The meteorology has warn about the one in a hundred years rains. And the drainage department has warned that is a need to upgrade all the drainage system in Johor. And the government department that handling the $$$$$ refuse to act.

All rivers in Johor is running under stress. IMHO, the rain is actually much less than the rain happen 100 years ago. The over development and plantation has destroy the orignial rain forest that withhold huge portion of rain water.

Bare in mind that Singapore only suffer temporary flood in restricted area.

Posted by: moo_t | January 10, 2007 02:07 PM

I see...didn't know about the meteorology warning though. if like this...then..........

Posted by: taiko_besar | January 10, 2007 03:48 PM

All issues such as potential natural disasters need to be incorporated into development planning. Is flood really something extraordinarily new in Msia?

If all the buildings in Japan collapsed after an earthquake, can the Japanese government says it is not their fault?

Yes, the government cannot stop the rain. But, the extend the flood is definitely make worse by shoddy works of this boleh government.

As pointed out by "moo_t" above, Singapore has only flash floods even though they are subjected to the same 100years rain. Geographically, Singapore is not even on a higher ground.

Yes, I am saying the government is also to be blamed!

Posted by: hasilox | January 10, 2007 04:45 PM

The state of what's happening in Johor is shameful. Very shameful. So are some of the comments on this post.

Posted by: Najah | January 10, 2007 10:52 PM

good job jeff,,,maybe cos the victims in johor were non-bumis...mainly non-bumi bizmen who suffered heavy losses..so since only pendatang, only LOAN :D

JEFF OOI says: You are politicising the matter. It should be sen as a Malaysian issue as the foolds all Malaysians. Take off your tainted racist sun-glasses.

great photos..did u see the ones where pak lah bermakan ria di perth??? some nasi lemak restaurant launch opening...

Posted by: freelunch2020 | January 11, 2007 12:03 AM

What is that Shanghai trip about? They better be bringing their families together and claim all to council's expenses. We need to feed these people nicely so they can get all the bad names. :-)

Posted by: azk | January 11, 2007 12:39 AM

Feeding times are almost over now. Soon, it will be time to take them out. No amount of damage control from Putrajaya can save these idiots now.

Posted by: azk | January 11, 2007 12:41 AM

Having Politicians and Party leaders at the 'ground zero' would bring some level of comfort to the flood victims but what can they do? Assist the red cresent to carry and distribute rescue supplies? Also to keep in mind, flying VVIP's to the affected area via chopper or plane will bring great loss of time and resourse as these choppers and planes can be more useful for rescue purposes. If possible i would like to hear from people who were there during any VVIP visit...did they brought together with them some rescue supply or evacuate people ussing their chopper or plane?

Posted by: tiban | January 11, 2007 12:49 AM

Come on! Act of GOD,
Not YBs.

Posted by: barney flinstone | January 11, 2007 01:34 AM

Look like the RM10bil is going underwater... They are building an underwater city for mermaids!

SATU LAGI PROJEK KERAJAAN BN!

Posted by: robin hood | January 11, 2007 02:13 AM

haiya, 2007 VMY already mah. this is the last chance for local big shots to go holiday oversea. kasi chance la. if they go obersi in 2007 instead of cuti cuti Malaysia, you orang lagi marah sama depa. susah susah.
hehe

Posted by: eantautjk | January 11, 2007 09:24 AM

Act of GOD, Please lah God do not appoint for the present government, do not appoint council members, do not appoint those town planner.

Posted by: AverageJoe | January 11, 2007 09:34 AM

INTERNET does not operate in a legal vacuum.
Read this before you post a comment in this blog!

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'Red Alert'? YBs on remote control

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