He said the state’s finances are in good shape and the state still has the capacity to deal with further crises.
“There’s no bankruptcy. We are managing the state quite okay. If otherwise, we won’t be able to set up mitigation plans (to deal with all these crises),” said Shafie today when met by reporters on a visit to the Penampang temporary flood relief centre near here.
Yesterday, SAPP president Yong Teck Lee said the state is heading for a financial crisis because Shafie’s administration lacked the competency to deal with falling state revenue.
Yong made his case by pointing out the financially troubled University College Sabah Foundation is trying to stay afloat after student enrolment dropped sharply for the April intake because of the movement control order.
However, Shafie said Sabah is viewed as one of the best-managed states in terms of overcoming crises like the Covid-19. As for the floods, the state government was well prepared for the disaster as the rainy season happens every year.
“We are ready for any kind of disaster at this point. We are quite ready for things to come. But we pray to God no other things will come.
“Our machineries are okay. Although Sabah does not have the luxury like tall buildings, the wellbeing of Sabahans remains the utmost importance,” he said.
Shafie said 105 villages in over 300 areas have been affected by the floods, which he said were largely caused by the poor irrigation system and the areas affected are mostly riverine areas.
“It is clear that although the rain has stopped, the water has taken a long time to recede. I have already instructed all district offices to start activating their disaster management committee and prepare for worsening floods in the days to come,” he said.
He said he had already expected the state would face a flood crisis today as incessant rain since yesterday afternoon had lasted for more than 13 hours.
Shafie said he recalled instructing clearing of rivers and drains about three weeks ago at a Cabinet meeting but noted that floods still happened due to clogged drains and dirty rivers.
However, he said fixing the problem is what was more important and to ensure the wellbeing of victims is taken care of, including ensuring ample food supply reaching to victims presently taking shelter in evacuation centres.
On the same note, he had also instructed Infrastructure Development Minister Peter Anthony, who had recently been hospitalised for vertigo a day before he was supposed to appear in court in Kuala Lumpur, to immediately clear roads blocked by falling debris, repair roads damaged by landslides and carry out flood mitigation works such as increasing the depth of rivers in affected areas.
Shafie, meanwhile, refused to take any reporters’ questions about him being nominated as Pakatan Harapan’s choice for prime minister.
As of noon today, 10 districts have been affected by the floods: Tenom, Pitas, Beaufort, Membakut, Papar, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Penampang, Keningau and Tuaran.
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