Sanusi likens NGO to ‘armchair critics’ after rebuke over flood remarks

GEORGE TOWN: Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Md Nor defended his explanation that a water head phenomenon had caused the massive floods in Baling, after an environmental NGO said he should not blame Mother Nature for it.

Sanusi likened Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) to armchair critics.

He said the explanation he gave was provided by experts and not by dubious or fake social media accounts.

“They are making their statements from their office, looking at pictures and videos uploaded anonymously on social media.”

“I’m here (in Baling). I flew here in a helicopter and looked at the top of the hill and the river.

“I also read all the reports from the government agencies, including the geosciences department,” he told FMT.

Earlier today, SAM said Sanusi should not blame Mother Nature for the floods, and instead take action on logging activities in the surrounding areas.

Its president Meenakshi Raman said the water head phenomenon could not be used as a convenient excuse when pictures showed trees and logs in the muddy waters.

She also pointed out a video showing Musang King durians being planted at Gunung Inas, not far away from the flooding site. She said the site was “massively cleared”.

Sanusi also said two months after he became menteri besar, he ordered the company to stop work on the durian plantation and for the site to be restored with vegetation replanting.

He said the previous government had given the approval for the project and he had no personal interest in it. — Free Malaysia Today