Ismail said MKN will issue directives to the relevant quarters on initiatives that need to be carried out.

The National Disaster Management Agency will remain the main agency to manage and coordinate such efforts. “And if a directive (by Nadma) isn’t adhered to, MKN will issue the instructions,” he said in a statement after chairing a special meeting on the large-scale flooding in five states at the weekend.

Ismail’s announcement this evening follows the criticisms levelled at Nadma.

Earlier today, an NGO called on the government to drop special functions minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad, who heads the agency, for its failure to respond to the floods, which have claimed eight lives in Selangor so far.

Latiff had previously been quoted as saying that Nadma was not directly involved in dealing with natural disasters such as floods at the state level, and was largely responsible for providing compensation after being provided information by relevant state authorities.

Yesterday, NST reported that some victims could not reach Nadma, forcing the agency to add more hunting lines to its emergency hotline.