SELANGOR Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said his not being chairman of the National Security Council (NSC) for Selangor hampered the state’s efforts to respond when massive floods hit several areas over the weekend following continuous rainfall.

Despite this handicap, he said he had done everything possible within his power to get help from the federal government, which was responsible for handling national assets, including the military.

“In November, I was informed that for the National Security Council under the Prime Minister’s Department, its chairmanship for Selangor had been handed over to a federal minister,” he said, referring to Noh Omar who is Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister, and also Selangor Umno chief.

Selangor is an opposition-led state, with Amirudin as PKR’s assemblyman for Sungai Tua.

“So, I couldn’t call the police, couldn’t call the military. If had the capacity, I would have,” Amirudin told a press conference in Shah Alam this afternoon.

He said he was disclosing this conundrum not to blame any party but to explain the situation and chronology of flood management over the past few days.

A news report earlier today alleged that the Selangor government had delayed or been reluctant to call in the army to help with flood relief efforts.

Amirudin today also said he had been contacted by the NSC to be reinstated as chairman of the state council.

“InsyaAllah, I will call on all parties, including the opposition, to coordinate, especially for recovery after this.”

Denying reports that Selangor was slow in calling in the army, Amirudin said he had been in touch with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein on Friday night and informed them of the situation at the time.

The next day, on Saturday, Amirudin joined Ismail to survey the situation in Klang. Since then, the work of managing rescue efforts and helping those affected was more organised, he added.

Both the federal and Selangor governments have come under fire from the public for delays and a lack of coordination in helping flood victims. – December 21, 2021.