TAIPING: The ongoing campaign for the 15th General Election (GE15) is making it hard to channel aid to flood victims, says Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
The incumbent Larut MP, who is defending his parliamentary seat in GE15, said this was due to the fact that certain types of assistance cannot be rendered during campaigning as stated under the Election Offences Act.
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“We are sad. Now we have more than 3,000 flood victims who had to be moved to the relief centres.
“If it were not for GE15, we could focus on helping them. But now, everything is in chaos,” he told reporters at the Larut Matang Selama district registration office here Wednesday (Nov 16).
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The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) had reportedly stated that a total of 3,014 flood victims, consisting of 932 families, have been relocated to 29 temporary relief shelters after seven states - Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Melaka, Johor, Kelantan and Sabah - were hit by flash floods.
Hamzah, who is also Perikatan Nasional secretary-general, urged the public to pick leaders who prioritise them.
“Pick a leader who has the responsibility for the people. Don’t just simply trust the party’s slogan,” he said.