Malaysia floods: One dead as 19,000 forced to relief centres

KUALA LUMPUR — An emergency motion in Malaysian Parliament today (Dec 4) on the worsening floods, which reportedly claimed one life, was rejected, even as AFP reported that 19,000 people were forced to seek shelter at relief centres in Terengganu, Pahang and Johor.

Kuantan Member of Parliament, Ms Fuziah Salleh, had tabled the motion to compel Putrajaya to declare a state of emergency in several areas in Pahang to deal with the situation, but Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said aid was being deployed to help thousands of affected residents.

Ms Fuziah said she was besieged by calls last night from victims who were trapped in their homes and evacuation centres, with no food, water and electricity supply.

She claimed there was no response from authorities like the police and Fire and Rescue Services Department.

“We could not reach them because the roads were cut off by flood and the authorities were nowhere to be found.

“We are not Power Rangers or Ultraman who can fly, we need help from the federal government to bring aid to the victims,” she said.

Ms Fuziah later engaged in a war of words with Mr Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, who questioned Ms Fuziah’s concerns, saying she should be in her constituency to help victims.

“She should have returned to take a look at the situation. If it was my area, I would have been with my people,” he said.

In reply, Mr Shahidan said since yesterday, help had been deployed to the affected areas.

“All security personnel, including the minister in charge of welfare are there to help the victims, moving them to shelters and giving them food,” he said, referring to Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Ms Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim.

Mr Shahidan said he would travel to the affected areas today, adding that state and federal machinery has been activated.

Officials reported the death of a teenager and about 19,000 people were evacuated.

The report said the 17-year-old boy was fishing with his father in Terengganu, before he was swept away in a swollen river. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER