PENGKALAN CHEPA, Malaysia // Rescue teams struggled to reach flooded areas of north-east Malaysia on Saturday as victims accused the government of being too slow in providing assistance after the country’s worst flooding in decades.
Torrential monsoon rains leading to massive flooding in north-east Malaysia have taken the lives of five people.
Malaysians have vented their anger at prime minister Najib Razak after photos went viral showing him playing golf with US president Barack Obama during the storms.
The number of people forced to flee their homes passed 120,000 on Saturday with weather forecasters warning of no respite for the northeastern states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
Meanwhile, Mr Najib arrived in Kelantan to lead the national flood response after cutting short his vacation in Hawaii. He was expected to meet with flood victims.
Malaysia’s northeastern region is regularly hit by flooding during the annual monsoon, but this year’s rains have been unusually bad.
Deputy prime pinister Muhyiddin Yassin said rescuers were facing challenges with power outages and roads being washed away by the floods.
“I admit the situation is challenging to the rescue workers and we are trying our best to make sure that ... food arrives to the victims depending on the flood situation,” he was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.
Military helicopters and trucks were seen in the Kota Bharu area, close to the border with southern Thailand, but rescue efforts were being hampered by fast rising waters and strong currents with roads to hard-hit areas made impassable.
“The severity and scale of the floods had taken the authorities completely by surprise as it was worse than anticipated, overwhelming all disaster management plans and preparations,” said Lim Kit Siang, a veteran opposition MP with the Democratic Action Party.
Kelantan, one of the worst-affected areas, is one of the poorest states in the country.
From the air, parts of the state capital Kota Bharu resembled a vast, muddy lake, with row after row of rooftops peeking out of the murky waters.
Tempers were frayed among people sheltering at a crowded relief centre just outside Kota Bharu, with fears the situation would worsen as it continued to rain in surrounding areas.
“I am angry with them (the government). We don’t care about their politics. We just want the government to do what they should do and help us,” said 23-year-old Farhana Suhada.
Holding on tightly to her six-month-old baby, she said: “For breakfast I had three biscuits and tea. There’s not enough water and no food at all for my baby. I had to buy my own milk.”
Ms Farhana was forced to abandon her home four days ago after flood waters rose quickly to almost neck level.
“I have lost everything, including huge damage to my house and my car and motorcycle,” she said.
* Agence France-Presse