Mindef ready to mobilise assets if floods hit during GE15 - Hishammuddin

KLUANG: The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) is always prepared to mobilise assets should a flood disaster hit at the same time as the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).

Its senior minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he would also discuss with state government leaders and receive briefings regarding the flood situation in each state.

He said he has held discussions with Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi recently and would be meeting Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail soon.

"If everyone plays their role, and there is coordination between the federal agencies and state governments, I think there is no reason why any party would feel threatened should the floods hit (during GE15).

"I have told the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) should a flood occurs during GE15, they need to be prepared to do more than what they have been doing before.

"God willing we will be able to handle the floods as how we had dealt with the (flood) problem in Kelantan before," he told a press conference after a ceremony to hand over Notice 5A to 282 families at Felda Bukit Tongkat here today.

On the programme, the Sembrong Member of Parliament, said the government had always been consistent in responding to the plight of the settlers, especially when it comes to Felda land ownership issue.

"In Sembrong, 96.5 per cent of the grants have already been handed over, this took years, which means we have been consistent in helping Felda settlers including the time when were not the ruling government.

Meanwhile, Felda Bukit Tongkat chief Mohd Noor Sarugi said with the handover of the grants, all the settlers received land ownership rights of 10 acres each, in addition to a house site.

He said the settlers had waited for this for the past 35 years, adding though some of the recipients are from the second and third generation, they are grateful for their parents' hard work.

-- BERNAMA