FORESIGHT is a principle that seems unfamiliar to Malaysian politicians and government officials, at least when it comes to tackling a disaster, which is oftentimes man-made. They tend to be reactive instead of proactive, taking action only after an incident has happened. Examples are aplenty in the last several months.

Three people had to die for the Sabah government to swing into action against illegal blast fishing. The harrowing deaths of the two Chinese tourists and a local diving instructor on July 5 were due to a home-made bomb that went off while they were underwater. The incident is bound to dent our tourism industry’s image and lead to a loss of income, which Sabah can ill afford. Previous incidents of kidnappings for ransom and a capsized catamaran have brought Tourism Malaysia into disrepute. No thanks to successive disasters, including the aforementioned deaths due to a fish bomb, a full “recovery” of driven-away Chinese tourists is remote.

Fishing using explosives is illegal. Any form of fishing in demarcated marine parks is also illegal. Blast fishing significantly reduces fish populations and causes a lot of damage to the environment, especially corals, and the activity often goes unchecked in Sabah. Frequent tourists to the state’s Tunku Abdul Rahman Park should notice that there are hardly any fish left compared with 15 years ago. The state Fisheries Department’s enforcement measures and the capabilities of local politicians are in question. The intention to put a stop to illegal fishing remains just that so long as foresight and bold action are absent. A no-nonsense and capable leadership to see to it that policies are carried out is essential. For that failure, the kindest request is for the Sabah agriculture and food industry minister to voluntarily take a RM10 pay cut. Malaysians are not asking for Japanese “seppuku”.

Johor shares Sabah’s incompetency and lack of foresight. Two environmental disasters in the space of four months occurred in Pasir Gudang district. The first was in March, when 2.43 tonnes of chemical waste were illegally dumped into Sg Kim Kim. It resulted in almost 1,000 people hospitalised or treated for toxic fumes, and subsequently, the declaration of a state of emergency. After a massive clean-up of the river, another disaster struck – last month saw toxic fumes causing breathing difficulties among residents. The root cause of the latest incident remains undetermined. All 475 educational institutions in the district had to close for three days for safety reasons.

Local governments mandated to issue licences and collect taxes are supposed to keep a record of their districts’ factories and types of businesses, including the use of hazardous chemicals, and the standard operating procedures for storage and disposal. District and municipal councillors and officers must remain vigilant against illegal waste disposal. Needless to say, these officials must have foresight and take proactive action. Being proactive means to be prepared, and to take control and act in anticipation of an occurrence. A third disaster is waiting to strike in Johor. People’s health and lives are at stake. For their failings, it is fair to request that Pasir Gudang councillors and the state exco in charge of local government forgo their allowance for one month.

Kelantan, meanwhile, seems to be vying for the bottom-most spot in the competency ratings. The case of Kg Kuala Koh’s Bateq tribe, of whom 14 “mysteriously” died within a month, was reported in May, and river pollution was given as a possible cause. Official statements on the cause of death – from pneumonia to measles to the unknown; from the presence of a manganese mine, to no manganese pollution detected in the discharged water – conveyed an uncertain picture of the disaster. What was certain to the public, however, was that these officials had been confusing, and were a confused lot. The biggest “comedian” was the Kelantan deputy menteri besar, who reportedly said he did not know such a mine existed near where the Bateq lived.

A much earlier incident, in 2015, saw seven Orang Asli schoolchildren in Gua Musang going missing due to fear of punishment. After 47 days, five were found dead. The two survivors were found starving and bony. Going further back, the massive 2014-2015 floods in Kelantan wreaked havoc, and halted communications and government functions for weeks. Extensive logging was the obvious cause, but not obvious to the state’s leaders. Their vain display of according low priority to earthly events, instead focusing on heavenly bliss, was very telling about their level of competency and foresight when it comes to handling disasters. The 2015-2016 Kuantan bauxite disaster that turned the rivers and sea red is another incident. And, there are more examples of chemical waste being discharged into water catchment areas in other states.

After so many disasters and tragedies, action remains reactive instead of proactive. Therefore, it is appropriate to conclude that our politicians and government officials have little to no foresight. – July 18, 2019.

* Captain Dr Wong Ang Peng is a researcher with an interest in economics, politics, and health issues. He has a burning desire to do anything within his means to promote national harmony. Captain Wong is also a member of the National Patriots Association.

* 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.