THERE is a time for politics and a time to put it aside. A simple rule of thumb would be that politics should always take a backseat when human lives are at stake. The bickering can continue after those lives are secure and the rebuilding begins.

Malaysia is blessed in that we are spared the worst brunt of natural disasters. Our dry season, while inconvenient, usually clears up when the winds bring in rain clouds a few weeks later and our rainy floods, though worsening in recent years, are still spared the kind of tornadoes that destroy large chunks of American cities, levelling whole city blocks and costing billions in lost infrastructure and economic impact.

But even something small like prolonged rain can cause devastating effects like the flash floods we see happening in Penang. In recent years, we have seen the flood situation across the country worsen; in states where seasonal floods routinely happen, like in Kelantan, states where flash floods occurs when it rains more than usual, like in Kuala Lumpur, or places that have started experiencing floods where it had not happened before, like Perak and Selangor. And with every flood, comes a deluge of political statements.

Distasteful comments like those passed by the MCA Youth Chief are not only uncalled for, they border on being uncivilized. To make such remarks just for cheap cheers is just pathetic.

The same can be said about a tweet by a Deputy Minister belittling the Penang Chief Minister simply because he reached out for help.

Fortunately, many politicians do not share such poor behaviour. Penangites will surely long remember the quick response of the Deputy Prime Minister, the solidarity of the Selangor Menteri Besar and the generosity of PAS in mobilising their large pool of volunteers to assist flood relief efforts.

This is the kind of politics we should practise all the time. Mature, properly prioritised and perhaps most basic, yet often forgotten, humane.

During times of tragedy, when people’s emotions are high and amplified, the rights and wrongs of politicians in dealing with these victims come under even more intense scrutiny. A PR disaster therefore, could be more damaging that the natural tragedy itself.

The untiring efforts by the thousands of workers, many of them volunteers from other states, in evacuating survivors, ensuring their basic necessities, to clear the streets, make roads safe for traffic, restore water and electricity supplies demonstrate the true spirit of Malaysian values – selflessness, love for their neighbour and brotherhood irrespective of colour or creed.

This positivity and goodwill should carry on beyond just natural disasters.

For example, in Penang, a proper and neutral scientific study needs to be conducted on whether or not overdevelopment has occurred, beyond town hall arguments, finger pointing and anecdotal evidence. Otherwise, it will forever be a case of blame game and political tic-tac-toe.

Over-development is not the fault of any one single party. Approvals for developing a particular area are granted not by one single party, but by many agencies and bodies – federal, state and municipal. 

Perhaps it is time these agencies got together and did an overall nationwide study to determine once and for all which areas or states require a hold on development and replanting of forests, strengthening of hillsides or widening of water catchments.

Apart from the authorities, irresponsible development also occurs as a direct consequence of economic wants. Without demand, there will be no supply, be it buying a house you don’t really live in by the beach, the desire to live around scenic hillside views, the urge to sip a cold drink in the middle of an unblemished forest.

Sometimes it’s the small things that add up – cementing a perfectly good patch of earth outside your house to park an extra car, or uprooting a tree so you can put a potted plant in its stead, or throwing rubbish everywhere, clogging up the drains.

Equitable distribution of tax dollars, and the sharing of the burden of development, also plays a part in this equation. States that often resort to mass deforestation and overpopulation often do it, at least in part, due to the need to raise funds for the state coffers. Perhaps some of the monies being used to beautify already beautiful parts of KL should be redirected to these states, with a condition that a certain amount of state land is gazetted as forest reserves in return. A reward for keeping green, if you will.

Weather patterns are constantly changing, and with the last few incidents, perhaps it would be worth investing more in public drainage and flood-proofing critical infrastructure to prevent loss of life and mitigating further damage caused by chain-reactions and domino effects.

All this requires a lot of funds, effort and political will, and will only happen if politicians set out to solve the problems of the people who placed their trust in them to protect them, rather than pushing the blame to their predecessors, passing the responsibility for their successors or just looking up to heaven and saying it’s God’s fault, either because He forgot to inform the weather hotline, or because he’s upset with Oktoberfest. – November 7, 2017. 

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.