Yahoo – AFP,
Satish Cheney, 27 Dec 2014
 |
A boy plays
in floodwaters near a petrol station in Pengkalan Chepa, near
Kota Bharu on
December 26, 2014 (AFP Photo)
|
Malaysia's
worst flooding in decades forced some 118,000 people to flee as premier Najib
Razak came under fire after photos showed him golfing with US President Barack
Obama during the storms.
At least
five people have been killed by the rising waters and there appeared little
respite on the way on Friday, 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 (6.5 feet) and entire houses submerged by rising water, the government
faced criticism for not declaring a state of emergency to help devastated
communities.
 |
A family
ride in a boat through floodwater
in Pengkalan Chepa, near Kota Bharu on
December 26, 2014 (AFP Photo)
|
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 have also
been badly hit by the storms.
Military
officials told AFP that additional helicopters from Kuala Lumpur were sent
Friday morning to deliver medical supplies, food and drinking water to victims
of the flooding.
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 called on rescue workers desperately trying to reach flood
victims to step up their efforts to deliver food and water.
Najib
himself came under fire, however, when photos emerged of the premier playing
golf with Obama in Hawaii, with Malaysians questioning why he was not at home
to deal with the crisis in posts on his official Facebook page.
'PM needs
a break'
Critics
have also charged his 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.
"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."
 |
A man waits
outside his house in
floodwaters as he waits to be to evacuated
in Pengkalan Chepa, near Kota Bharu
on December 26, 2014 (AFP Photo)
|
He is
expected to land in Kelantan, one of the most severely-hit states, and meet
people affected by the crisis as well as discuss new measures with authorities
to help flood victims.
"I am
deeply concerned by the floods. I feel for the people who have lost their
homes, and the families who have lost loved ones," Najib said in a
statement.
"I
want to see the situation for myself and be with the people."
Meanwhile,
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, including the southern state of Johor, which neighbours
Singapore.
Residents
there have been cautioned to prepare for possible massive floods. Heavy rain on
Friday morning had already resulted in over 200 being evacuated to relief
centres.
Some states
and districts across Malaysia have decided to cancel their New Year celebration
plans as a mark of respect for flood victims.
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