Floods in Penang: The blame game begins
BALIK PULAU: The blame game has started as to who is at fault for the flash floods that struck Penang yesterday.
Teluk Bahang assemblyman Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah, of the Barisan Nasional, has attributed the floods in Teluk Bahang to the outdated drainage system.
The DAP-led state government maintained that the floods resulted from heavy rain and high tide.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the downpour caused the floods in many places, including Teluk Bahang, Teluk Kumbar, some areas in Bayan Lepas and the Penang International Airport.
“The heavy rain of 250mm in a day in Teluk Bahang had caused the floods and, based on an investigation by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, the floods at the airport were due to internal problems,” Lim said during a visit to Teluk Bahang to meet the flood victims.
Lim said he was informed that 65mm of rainfall was recorded yesterday in Teluk Kumbar which resulted in many areas being flooded.
Shah Headan said his office had asked for the drainage upgrade in the area in 2013 but, until now, the state had failed to do any upgrading.
“We asked the state to conduct the necessary upgrade in 2013 but, sadly until now, there has been none, thus causing the floods in 2014 and yesterday, which was the worst for the people there.”
The Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas and the Teluk Kumbar project come under the purview of the Federal Government.
When visiting flood victims at evacuation centres in Teluk Kumbar, Lim said the state government had approved RM12 million for flood mitigation projects.
“We need to follow the standard operating procedure before the project can be completed and I urge the people here to be patient with the situation,” he said.
See also:
Flash floods wreak havoc in Teluk Bahang
Heavy rain, floods delay flights at Penang Airport
Penang bracing for another round of floods
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