Anger over Malaysia’s deadly floods sees politicians, Terengganu voters blamed
- Terengganu’s state chief minister is in New Zealand while storms, floods lash state and displace over 70,000 people
- But some have blamed the people of Terengganu and Kelantan, saying that they ‘deserve it’ for voting for Malay nationalist and Islamist faction PN
Terengganu, the worst-hit state with more than 40,000 victims relocated across some 300 relief centres, on Sunday saw the nation’s first flood-related death of this monsoon when a two-year-old girl drowned outside her house as the family were being relocated.
In another east coast state, Kelantan, more than 30,000 residents have been displaced so far.
“Most frustrating is the failure of the [Terengganu] state government to send food supplies to flood victims at several relief centres after the road network was compromised,” said local newspaper Utusan Malaysia.
“Everyone knows that December is flood season, and he chose this month to be out of the country,” said Terengganu resident Mahadi Suli from his flooded house in the state capital. “Where is his common sense?”
Some online commenters directed their anger towards the people of Terengganu and Kelantan, blaming their plight on the way the states voted in November’s watershed election that saw the Malay nationalist and Islamist faction Perikatan Nasional (PN) make significant gains.
“You chose them [PN], Terengganu people,” replied one person on Twitter to a news update on the state’s flood.
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“Those who say that should reflect back that in times like this it is best to work together to help instead of tying things to politics,” said Twitter user Nik Mujahidah.
The east coast of the Malaysian peninsula typically sees floods during the year-end monsoon. But the number of displaced residents so far this year has already exceeded previous years.
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Severe flooding in Malaysia displaces more than 70,000, at least 5 dead
The Malaysian peninsula typically does not experience extreme weather conditions but climate change is increasingly wreaking havoc on Malaysians’ lives as storms become stronger and more frequent.
Selangor is the country’s most affluent state and has suffered landslides before, often attributed to forest and land clearance.
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“From record-breaking floods to worsening air quality, it feels like these issues are just becoming a regular part of life,” said climate change advocacy group Klima Action Malaysia, expressing alarm over how quickly people became used to natural disasters that occur from climate change.
Malaysian observer Bridget Welsh concurred with the climate group’s concern, saying that floods being seen as “normal” occurrences has reinforced the desensitisation along with the “flawed view” that they are an “act of God”.
“There is a disconnect between the east coast floods among many on the west coast,” Welsh said. “Malaysians are divided.”
Klima Action Malaysia said it was also disappointed by how the public appeared to have lost their sense of urgency and the ability to “feel the gravity of these events”.
“It’s time to break this cycle of desensitisation. We can’t afford to become numb to the devastating effects of climate change in our own country,” it said.
