More than 100,000 Malaysians flee their homes after the worst flooding in 30 years
At least five dead as worst flooding in 30 years prompts mass evacuation in five states, with torrential rain forecast to hit unaffected areas
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 27 December, 2014, 4:18am
UPDATED : Saturday, 27 December, 2014, 4:18am
Agence France-Presse in Kuala Lumpur
A man waits to be evacuated outside his house in Pengkalan Chepa, near Kota Bharu. Photo: AFP
Malaysia's worst flooding in three decades has killed at least five people and forced more than 105,000 people to flee their homes.
The fatalities were caused by rising waters and there appeared little respite on the way yesterday, with forecasters predicting further heavy rainfall across previously unaffected southern parts of the country.
As local media carried photographs of people wading through flood waters as deep as two metres and entire houses submerged by rising water, the government faced criticism for not declaring a state of emergency to help devastated communities.
Authorities have evacuated numerous villages and towns in five Malaysian states. Flood monitoring centres said more than 105,000 people were living in schools, community halls and other relief centres.
Seasonal flooding hits Malaysia every year and regularly forces tens of thousands from their homes, but the latest round has forced authorities to evacuate tens of thousands, mostly in the northeast, state news agency Bernama reported.
Among the dead was a man who drowned at a relief centre on Christmas Eve, while a rescue boat carrying eight people including a young couple went missing after it became entrapped in a whirlpool and capsized, the news agency said. Rising flood water has rendered several roads unusable and authorities have suspended train services in some of the worst-affected areas.
Communications throughout the country have also been badly hit by the storms.
In a rare piece of positive news, around 100 tourists who were stranded in a remote resort in central Malaysia's Mutiara Taman Negara Resort were rescued and sent to a relief centre.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called on rescue workers desperately trying to reach flood victims to step up their efforts to deliver food and water - as the premier himself came under fire after photos showed him golfing with US President Barack Obama in Hawaii.
In posts on Najib's official Facebook page, several Malaysians questioning why the prime minister was not at home to deal with the crisis.
Yesterday, however, he said he would cut his holiday short and return to Malaysia early, heading straight to flood-ravaged Kelantan state to oversee response to the floods.
Critics have also charged Najib's government with failing to respond quickly enough, with some lambasting the authorities for not declaring a state of emergency in the worst-hit regions.
"The PM needs time to take a break," Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times, before Najib said he was returning home.
"He has been working very hard so let's be fair to him as a human being. Don't worry, I'm in charge."
Yassin also insisted the government had responded appropriately to the flooding, telling the newspaper: "We face floods every year but this is looking to be the worst the country has seen in the last 30 years.
"Unless there was a total breakdown in electricity or water supply, or if the number of evacuees rises to over hundreds of thousands, we will not declare a state of emergency."
The Malaysian Meteorological Department warned of a heavy downpour over the next few days in parts of the country that have so far been spared the worst of the flooding.
These include the southern state of Johor, which is connected to Singapore by a causeway.
Residents there have been warned to prepare for possible massive floods.
Some states and districts across Malaysia have decided to cancel their New Year celebration plans as a mark of respect for flood victims.
Additional reporting from Associated Press
