Ma blasts government over flood control

Seventy-year-old Lin Feng-tien is rescued by helicopter after a car accident caused by a mudslide in Taichung County yesterday. PHOTO: OU SU-MEI, TAIPEI TIMES

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday lashed out at the government for shifting responsibility for disaster prevention onto the opposition parties and confusing the flood-fighting budget bill with relief work.

"The special flood-control budget bill is intended to prevent future disasters and has nothing to do with relief work. Even if the bill is passed, the budget will be used to dredge rivers, rather than for relief work," Ma said yesterday morning at Taipei City Hall.

Ma, who is also Taipei mayor, announced yesterday at a press conference that the city government has sent 50 relief workers and two big pumps to flood-damaged areas in Chiayi County.

The city's fire and health departments are also ready to assist with post-flood relief such as the upgrading of sanitary conditions in the affected areas.

In response to the Executive Yuan's appeal to the pan-blue camp to pass the NT$80 billion (US$2.46 billion) flood-fighting special budget, Ma said the bill is already at the top of the agenda for the special legislative session.

"The special flood-control budget bill is intended to prevent future disasters and has nothing to do with relief work."

Ma Ying-jeou, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman

The government's poor disaster prevention efforts, Ma said, should be blamed for causing the flooding that hit central and southern Taiwan after days of torrential rainfall.

Ma said the victims need "substantial assistance," instead of "lip service," suggesting that the premier and the president should make more effort to help the flooded areas rather than just going on inspection tours.