KUALA LUMPUR: PKR has called for a special Parliament sitting to be held to enable federal lawmakers to discuss the issue involving floods that have struck several states over the past few days.

Party secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the special sitting of Parliament was also necessary to enable Members of Parliament to debate on the level of preparedness of the government machinery is facing floods.

He stressed that incidents of floods and landslides reported since last week, which was due to human activities, required Parliament to immediately review existing laws to control and prevent such disasters from getting worse in the future.

"We read and examined how the state government's immediate action was hampered by poor coordination at the central level, even though the assets and the Malaysian Armed Forces were ready. This is all a lesson for us. 

"I urge that a special sitting of Parliament be held specifically to discuss the issue of floods and the preparedness of the Government machinery, for the sake of all Malaysian family members who have been affected," he said in a statement, today.

The Kulim - Bandar Baharu Member of Parliament said the incidents of non -stop rain for several days followed by landslides and massive floods were a reminder that 'climate change is real' and could have unforeseen effects, whether for experts or even the government.

He said the effects of global climate change and the emergence of various viral outbreaks also demanded that governments, private parties and non -governmental organisations (NGOs) in developed countries be more serious in implementing the principles of Environmental Social Governance (ESG) as their main development policy.

"Seeing the mud spewed out by hills and rivers proves that our hills are getting eroded and our rivers are getting shallower, all the effects of human activities which if not controlled will bring consequences and catastrophe.

"For Malaysia not to be left behind, Parliament must immediately review all existing laws on the environment, river protection, and sustainable urban development for future needs," Saifuddin said.

To date, the Disaster Info portal of the Social Welfare Department (JKM) records that 51,000 flood victims from nearly 15,000 families were housed in 348 temporary evacuation centres (PPS) in the seven flood-hit states.