PENANG assemblymen want a special channel to be created for people to quickly get accurate information when disasters happen in the state.

As the state works to recover from a storm that brought record floods, members of the Penang legislative assembly said people needed a designated channel to get information.

“We should have a special channel, may be in radio or another medium, that can give the public updates on disasters and emergencies every half an hour or hour.

“In countries like Japan and Taiwan, they have such systems up and ready. We will need to have something similar if we are to be ready for disasters,” Lee Khai Loon (PKR-Machang Bubok) said during this morning’s sitting.

He said the public should be issued clear procedures on what to do and how to help others if the authorities could not reach them immediately after a disaster struck.

“Malaysians generally lack urgency when facing crises. We tend to believe that disasters won’t happen to us,” he added.

Nordin Ahmad (BN-Bayan Lepas) agreed with the lack of urgency among Malaysians.

“It is true we need an early warning system to get people to react quickly to disasters. We need it especially in the kampung,” he said.

He said many kampung folk would not move even after the headman told them a disaster was about to happen.

Nordin said people went shopping in Penang despite flooding on Saturday.

“It took one guy to run into a shopping mall, shouting for people to quickly move their cars because the water was rising.

“We need to make use of loudspeakers, sirens to quickly alert the people,” he said.

Teh Lai Heng (DAP-Komtar) said the state needed to have a hotline for emergencies so people could get and check information during disasters.

He said people would question the information circulated on social media.

“If there is a hotline, people can get the right and accurate information to help them react to emergencies quickly,” he said, while also suggesting a special fund for the current flash flood disaster

The assembylmen were debating an emergency motion on the flash floods tabled by state flood mitigation exco Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Padang Kota). The motion was passed with unanimous support in the House.

It was reported that nearly 6,000 people in Penang had to be evacuated after heavy rain since Saturday caused floods in areas that were never previously inundated, and led to more than 100 landslides.

Yap Soo Huey (DAP-Pulau Tikus) suggested that all Penangites should also be informed where the evacuation centres for their respective areas were located.

She said there should also be designated kitchens and cooks, with the logistics worked out in advance to ensure food could be sent to evacuees.

Yap also proposed emergency housing units for flood victims who might need temporary homes longer than other victims.

“I also propose that the state consider providing housing for community leaders like headmen who would have to be on the ground to help the people during emergencies. Some leaders live far from the communities they represent.”

She also asked for annual funds to enable the Fire and Rescue Department to acquire sufficient equipment to respond to emergencies.

“The Public Works Department should put up electronic signboards to alert people ahead of flash floods and road closures. Now, most people only find out after they get stuck on their way,” she said. – November 6, 2017.