PM cuts short holiday to deal with Malaysia's worst floods in decades
Najib Razak leaves Hawaii to return to Kuala Lumpur as rising waters cause more the 100,000 evacuations and at least five deaths
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Friday he was cutting short his US vacation to deal with the country’s worst floods in decades, which have killed five people and displaced more than 100,000.
Authorities have evacuated numerous villages and towns in five Malaysian states that were inundated following unusually strong torrential rains. More than 105,000 people have sought shelter in schools, community halls and other relief centres, according to flood monitoring procedures.
Najib has come under fire for going on holidays in Hawaii, where he was seen playing golf with President Barack Obama. People have posted messages on his Facebook page, urging him to return home as the flooding worsened.
Najib said in a statement he will return on Saturday, heading straight to flood-ravaged Kelantan state to oversee the response. Even on holiday, he said he was in constant touch with disaster and relief officials, who were doing all they could to help 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,” he said. “I want to see the situation for myself and be with the people.”