DEATH TOLL FROM MALAYSIA’S FLOODS RISES TO 27, NEARLY 70,000 DISPLACED

Wed 22 December 2021:

On Wednesday, the death toll from Malaysia’s worst floods in years climbed to 27, as the clean-up operation progressed and residents assessed the disaster’s damage.

Rivers overflowed over the weekend due to days of torrential rain, flooding cities, cutting off major roads, and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

One of the hardest-hit areas has been Selangor, Malaysia’s most densely populated and wealthiest state, which encircles the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Many residents of Shah Alam, the state capital, were stranded in their homes for days with little food before being evacuated on boats in a chaotic rescue operation.

Selangor state Chief Minister Amirudin Shari said at a press briefing more bodies have been found as floodwaters start subsiding, adding that the state government has mobilized all necessary resources to aid the victims.

“At this time, our focus is to ensure search and rescue operations are carried out effectively and that they reach all who need it,” he said.

Authorities said the process would speed up after a broken sluice gate, which controls the flow of water into a nearby river, was repaired.

According to state news agency Bernama, the death toll has risen to 27, with 20 people killed in Selangor and seven in Pahang in the east.

It is expected to rise as more people are reported missing.

Following the widely panned flood response, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim urged the government to hold a public inquiry.

Poor coordination between government agencies and the delayed deployment of the military “turned the response to the natural disaster into a human, governance disaster”, he said.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has admitted there were “weaknesses” but pledged improvements in future.

The country’s meteorological department has warned of more rain in the Peninsula Malaysia, with rain and storms expected in several states on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told a meeting with chief ministers this morning that it was found that states such as Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang had been prepared to face the floods, especially during this time of the year, according to state news agency Bernama.

He said while east coast states have been prepared to face annual floods, the situation in Selangor state is unexpected, and acknowledged that there have been problems with the disaster management response.

“I don’t deny (the weakness) and will improve in the future. The responsibility is not that of the federal government alone, but also the state governments and the frontliners in the districts.”

“In Selangor, there is a problem. We are transparent about this, and I do not want to cover for anyone,” he said.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES | Photo courtesy: Media Selangor

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