Gerakan has urged the PAS-led Kedah state government to take pre-emptive measures against an outbreak of waterborne diseases in the wake of the recent floods in Kedah.

Kedah Gerakan chairman Dr Cheah Soon Hai said the state should instruct health officials to work closely with the people in the affected areas to ensure that only clean water are supplied there.

“We are concerned with the welfare and health of the people. It is equally important to ensure that the people live in hygienic condition. We do not want an outbreak of diseases like diarrhoea and dysentery,” he said in a statement.

Dr Cheah, who is also Derga State Assemblyman, also appealed to the state government to instruct the local authorities including the city or municipal councils to send their men to help clear the debris and clean up the affected areas.

He said feedback revealed that the people were unhappy and dissatisfied with the state government over the handling of the flood situation in Kedah.

Dr Cheah also slammed the state government for trying to cover its administrative weaknesses by blaming the federal government when water rate in Kedah went up by 27% recently.

“The state government said it had no power or authority to decide on water rate increase. However, we are puzzled that a few days ago, the state government announced giving a one-month 30% discount for water usage in the flood affected areas,” he said.

“When they think a policy is bad they push the blame to the federal government. Their purpose is to cause confusion and hope the people will misunderstand the federal government,” he added.

He also chided the state government for adopting the “racial and religious segregation” approach, for example the introduction of 50% housing quota for bumiputras and the demolition of an abbatoir.