Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there was no need to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to review the flood disaster management and country's preparedness during the massive floods that displaced more than 200,000 people in six states last year.

Najib said the government and the related agencies would however, review and improve the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with such a disaster in the future.

The Prime Minister when answering a question from Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) in Dewan Rakyat today said setting up the RCI was not necessitated since the government had already initiated flood mitigation projects to compliment those already in place.

Najib (BN-Pekan) said the government had already allocated an initial budget of RM800 million to rebuild, repair infrastructure, RM500 million to the National Security Council to help people affected by floods, RM893 million for flood mitigation projects as well as rebuilding flood-affected areas.

He said the government had also initiated various measures and action plans in states affected by the floods, namely Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

Najib said based on the lesson learnt from the disaster, a number of issues had been identified for improvement, including improving competency, expertise, logistics, assets and flood management at all levels.

"There will be improvements in using more efficient early warning systems, control and issuance of directives on disasters and logistics for search and rescue operations during extreme conditions.

"Increase in assets will include buying more high powered boats, helicopters and placing disaster management experts at various levels to ensure efficient operation during disasters like floods," he said.

Najib said the government was also looking at best disaster management models applied by several countries that are often prone to disasters, including flood.

In conclusion, Najib said emphasis was needed to ensure all development were sustainable in nature.

“Such development include land development projects for all purposes, mining, opening of new land and logging. We must be aware that unsustainable development can lead to disasters,” he said.

Najib when answering Dr Hatta Ramli's (PAS-Kuala Krai) question as to why there were no contingency plans when relocating victims, said the magnitude of the floods was “unexpectedly” massive, especially in Kelantan.

“Such a phenomenon happens once in 100 years whereby there will be a drastic rise in water levels. It was unusual, no one expected such a major disaster to happen,” he said, adding that the Government would not discriminate Kelantan even though it is a PAS-led state.