Perak: National disaster act can be misused - Sun

IPOH (Dec 21, 2008): by Humayun Kabir

The Perak government is against the proposal to introduce a National Disaster Emergency Act which is seen as an act by the federal government to take control of Pakatan Rakyat-led state governments by declaring political motivated emergencies in these states.

“The Pakatan Rakyat state government can cooperate with the federal government in case of natural disasters occurring in the state without the need for such an act,” Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin told reporters today.

“I believe the state is capable of managing such catastrophes by cooperating with the relevant authorities in charge of natural disasters without the need for such an act which can be misused by the federal government to take control of Pakatan Rakyat-led states,” he said after officiating the state mosque officers association’s 12th annual general meeting here.

There are adequate federal laws in the country to control such disasters, he said in response to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz’s statement that the federal government may consider such an act in order for federal agencies to coordinate natural disasters that occur in Pakatan Rakyat-led states.

The minister was reported as saying that with such an act, an emergency can be declared when there is a disaster so that federal government can take charge.

Nazri, who is a member of the National Disaster Relief Committee, had said the act will also curb hoarding of essential supplies and control traders in the distribution of such supplies.