Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s “sign from God” remark about the recent Penang floods is only meant as a caution against overdevelopment, according to Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong.

“I interpret this as: we have to take care of the environment and nature. So, if we don’t take care of the environment and nature, nature will have a reaction.

“(This is) not only in Penang, but anywhere in the world. So, we must always look after the environment and prevent overdevelopment,” Mah told a press conference today after Gerakan’s national delegates’ conference in Kuala Lumpur.

He was asked whether he condoned the statement from Zahid at the conference, when the deputy prime minister said that the floods that hit Penang last week were a “sign from God” that Penang is ripe for the taking...