DAP has called on the government to cancel its planned Malaysia Day celebrations scheduled for tomorrow, citing the severe flooding in Sabah, which has triggered landslides, claimed one life, and caused widespread power and water outages, particularly along the state’s east coast.
Sabah DAP chief Phoong Jin Zhe, who also serves as the state’s Industrial Development Minister, emphasized that resources earmarked for the festivities should be redirected to aid those grappling with the crisis. “These cascading crises demand urgent and undivided attention from all levels of government,” Phoong said in a statement. “To truly honour the spirit of Malaysia Day, these disasters must be recognized as a national-level emergency.”
He stressed that the current situation in Sabah, particularly in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, and the east coast, warrants immediate action over ceremonial events. “This is not a time for celebration; it is a time for mobilization,” he said. “The people of these areas urgently need shelter, food, clean water, medical assistance, and the swift restoration of essential utilities.”
Phoong drew parallels with past decisions to prioritize compassion over festivity. He noted that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) cancelled its National Day eve countdown last year following a fatal sinkhole incident at Jalan Masjid India. Similarly, the Selangor government called off its state-level Aidilfitri celebration this year due to a gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights. “These actions reflected leadership that placed empathy above ceremony, and the same principle should guide our response in Sabah today,” he said.
The Luyang assemblyman urged both state and federal agencies, including local councils and welfare departments, to intensify relief efforts. He called for additional resource allocations, deployment of personnel, and expedited emergency support to alleviate further hardship for affected communities. “Cancelling the Malaysia Day celebrations would send a powerful message: the most meaningful way to mark this national occasion is by protecting lives, prioritizing public welfare, and restoring critical services,” Phoong added.
According to the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee, as of 8 a.m. today, 415 flood victims were reported in Beaufort and Penampang, underscoring the scale of the crisis.
