Back from criticised Hawaii trip, but Met warns of more storms ahead
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak headed straight for Kota Baru from his cut-short holiday in Hawaii as more people fled their homes in the worst monsoon floods in decades and weathermen forecast more rain in the week ahead.
Najib arrived at 1.40pm today and went immediately into a briefing by the National Security Council, Bernama reported. More than 132,000 are now in relief centres in eight states of the peninsula, with the East Coast, particularly Kelantan, most affected.
The government has allocated about almost RM50 million to manage relief centres, with Najib’s deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, saying rescuers were facing challenges with power failures and roads being washed away.
Najib has faced flak for being away in Hawaii for a surprise private visit to US President Barack Obama and photographs of him playing golf with the US president drew immediate criticism as heavy rains and higher than usual tides caused widespread inundation.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was another politician who cut short an overseas trip, after also facing opposition criticism. He returned on Friday evening from his ‘umrah’ (minor pilgrimage) trip. He said he had made plans for the trip a long time ago and had also planned to fulfill a vow made over the then political instability in Terengganu and for his ailing (now late) father.
Parts of Kota Baru resembled a vast, muddy lake, with row after row of rooftops peeking out of the murky waters, news wires reported.
Air drops of supplies planned
With major roads cut off, including portions of the East-West Highway, the National Security Council said air drops of food and drinking water might be needed to aid the thousands of stranded flood victims.
The council’s disaster management secretary Mohd Ariff Baharom said the authorities were unable to enter flooded areas by helicopters due to the lack of landing of space, the New Straits Times reported. “Most of the time, rescuers know exactly where the victims are but the place is either inaccessible or unsafe for them to go (by boat) due to the strong currents. So before we are able to reach them and bring them to safe zones, we can at least provide them with food by doing an airdrop,” he was quoted saying.
There have been reports of flood victims looting homes for food and drink.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak headed straight for Kota Baru from his cut-short holiday in Hawaii as more people fled their homes in the worst monsoon floods in decades and weathermen forecast more rain in the week ahead.
Najib arrived at 1.40pm today and went immediately into a briefing by the National Security Council, Bernama reported. More than 132,000 are now in relief centres in eight states of the peninsula, with the East Coast, particularly Kelantan, most affected.
The government has allocated about almost RM50 million to manage relief centres, with Najib’s deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, saying rescuers were facing challenges with power failures and roads being washed away.
Najib has faced flak for being away in Hawaii for a surprise private visit to US President Barack Obama and photographs of him playing golf with the US president drew immediate criticism as heavy rains and higher than usual tides caused widespread inundation.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was another politician who cut short an overseas trip, after also facing opposition criticism. He returned on Friday evening from his ‘umrah’ (minor pilgrimage) trip. He said he had made plans for the trip a long time ago and had also planned to fulfill a vow made over the then political instability in Terengganu and for his ailing (now late) father.
Parts of Kota Baru resembled a vast, muddy lake, with row after row of rooftops peeking out of the murky waters, news wires reported.
Air drops of supplies planned
With major roads cut off, including portions of the East-West Highway, the National Security Council said air drops of food and drinking water might be needed to aid the thousands of stranded flood victims.
The council’s disaster management secretary Mohd Ariff Baharom said the authorities were unable to enter flooded areas by helicopters due to the lack of landing of space, the New Straits Times reported. “Most of the time, rescuers know exactly where the victims are but the place is either inaccessible or unsafe for them to go (by boat) due to the strong currents. So before we are able to reach them and bring them to safe zones, we can at least provide them with food by doing an airdrop,” he was quoted saying.
There have been reports of flood victims looting homes for food and drink.
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