Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak (left), inspects the flood situation in Kelantan at the Yahya Petra bridge in Kota Baru, Kelantan, December 27, 2014 — Bernama pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 — Freshly returned from abroad, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak acknowledged today the serious floods that have submerged much of Kelantan but insisted that there was no necessity to declare a state of emergency in the northeastern state, according to a news tweet by Bernama.
The national news agency also reported on its micro-blogging account @bernamadotcom the prime minister announcing a special allowance of RM500 million in financial aid to flood victims nationwide.
“If the government announces an emergency, the implications that will arise include the insurance companies being absolved from paying compensation... and compensation arising from damages to property and vehicles is enormous.
“That’s why if we declare (an emergency), this means it includes the ‘force majeure’ category, and insurance companies need not pay compensation (in this case),” he was quoted saying in a later news report by Bernama.
He was also quoted saying the federal government is committed to assisting flood-affected Kelantan, adding that all the relevant agencies had been ordered to intensify rescue and aid operations and to treat the situation as a full-fledged emergency.
According to the Bernama news report, Najib said the RM500 million fund, to be managed by the National Security Council (NSC) was to help residents whose houses and vehicles were damaged by the floods and would not cover the cost to repair damages to educational institutions, government buildings, mosques and other similar buildings.
Bernama also reported the prime minister saying that the next phase of the Bantuan 1 Malaysia (BR1M) cash payment for the lower-income group, initially to be handed out at the end of January next year, would be brought forward to middle of the month in order to help the flood victims.
Najib had touched down at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in stricken Kelantan at 1.40pm today, and immediately went to work to tackle the country’s worst flooding crisis in decades.
Bernama reported Najib heading in for a closed-door briefing by the National Security Council on the flood situation in Kelantan, among the worst hit out of eight states nationwide that has seen over 100,000 evacuate their underwater homes.
Pictures of Najib heading out to flooded areas in a military helicopter and visiting the displaced flood victims in makeshift relief centres, including one at SMK Kubang Batang, Tumpat were later posted on Twitter and Facebook.
IN THE GALLERY
Residents of Kuala Pertang could not continue on their journey as flood worsens at Kampung Keroh, December 25, 2014. ― Bernama pic
A lorry is inundated with water at Jalan Jeli-Gua Musang due to the overflowing riverbanks, December 25, 2014. ― Bernama pic
Flood waters continue to rise in Taman Bukit Sirih, December 25, 2014. ― Bernama pic
Firemen transport a flood victim by boat to Hospital Jeli to get treatment, December 25, 2014. ― Bernama pic
Flood conditions worsen due to the heavy rainfall and overflowing riverbanks of the Kelantan river, December 25, 2014. ― Bernama pic
A resident of Kampung Keroh uses a water tank to save himself as flood waters continue to rise, December 25, 2014. ― Bernama pic
A resident of Taman Bukit Sirih is unableto return home as flood conditions worsen, December 25, 2014. ― Bernama pic
The water level at Jalan Tok Hakim continues to rise due to the heavy rainfall and overflowing riverbanks of the Kelantan River, December 25, 2014. ― Bernama pic
A child helps her mother collect items from their shop which were destroyed in a flood in Rantau Panjang, December 25, 2014.— Bernama pic
Flood victims at their house in Kampung Wakaf Stan in Kubang Kerian, December 25, 2014. — Bernama pic
Residents can only watch as Kuala Kangsar is inundated with water from Sungai Perak, December 25, 2014. — Bernama pic
Parts of Kelantan’s state capital, Kota Baru, is submerged following floods that have forced over 90,000 people to evacuate their homes in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, December 25, 2014. — Picture by Malay Mail Online reader
Parts of Kelantan’s state capital, Kota Baru, is submerged following floods that have forced over 90,000 people to evacuate their homes in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, December 25, 2014. — Picture by Malay Mail Online reader
A resident is seen on a boat in his village in Kuala Kangsar, Perak on December 26, 2014. — Picture by K.E. Ooi
A building is seen submerged in the river water beside Sungai Perak at Kuala Kangsar, Perak on December 26, 2014. — Picture by K.E. Ooi
Residents of village in Sayong find temporary shelter in SK Sayong in Kuala Kangsar, Perak on December 26, 2014. — Picture by K.E. Ooi
A RELA officer makes an announcement ordering villagers to evacuate the village as there will be a flood tonight in Kuala Kangsar, Perak on December 26, 2014. — Picture by K.E. Ooi
Mohd Saifuddin (right) with the help of his friend, moves things from his home in Sayong village in Kuala Kangsar, Perak on December 26, 2014. — Picture by K.E. Ooi
Parts of Kelantan’s state capital, Kota Baru, is submerged following floods that have forced over 90,000 people to evacuate their homes in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, December 26, 2014. — Picture by Malay Mail Online reader
Parts of Kelantan’s state capital, Kota Bharu, is submerged following floods that have forced over 90,000 people to evacuate their homes in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, December 26, 2014. — Picture by Malay Mail Online reader
Parts of Kelantan’s state capital, Kota Baru, is submerged following floods that have forced over 90,000 people to evacuate their homes in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, December 26, 2014. — Picture by Malay Mail Online reader
Parts of Kelantan’s state capital, Kota Baru, is submerged following floods that have forced over 90,000 people to evacuate their homes in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, December 26, 2014. — Picture by Malay Mail Online reader
Parts of Kelantan’s state capital, Kota Baru, is submerged following floods that have forced over 90,000 people to evacuate their homes in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, December 26, 2014. — Picture by Malay Mail Online reader
Army personnel preparing to drop relief food to flood victims, December 26, 2014.
Flood victims are seen at a flood relief centre in Kelantan,December 26, 2014.
Flood victims are seen at a flood relief centre in Kelantan,December 26, 2014.
Residents wading in thigh-deep flood waters in flood-hit Kelantan, Flood victims are seen at a flood relief centre in Kelantan, December 26, 2014.
Kelantan is facing one of the worst floods in decades, December 26, 2014.
Kelantan is facing one of the worst floods in decades, December 26, 2014.
Students hold on to each other as they gingerly walk in chest-high waters in Kelantan, December 26, 2014.
Students hold their bags high above their heads as the walk in chest-high waters in Kelantan, December 26, 2014.
Army personnel preparing food for flood victims, December 26, 2014.
Army personnel attend to a flood victim at a flood relief centre in Kelantan, December 26, 2014.
Army personnel airlifting food to flood victims in Kelantan, December 26, 2014.
Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali makes a visit to Kelantan to see the flood situation, December 26, 2014.
Army personnel airlifting food to flood victims in Kelantan, December 26, 2014.
An aerial view of flood-hit Kelantan, December 26, 2014.
Army personnel heading out to help flood victims in Kelantan, December 26, 2014.
Flood victims in Kelantan waiting to be rescued, December 26, 2014.
The PolyTech College near Sg Kelantan is inundated by flood waters, December 27, 2014.
Flood waters continue to rise in Bandar Baru Tanah Merah in Kelantan, December 27, 2014.
A flood relief centre in Kemaman, Terengganu, December 27, 2014.
Malaysian Army personnel are seen bringing patients from Manik Urai to the Kuala Krai Hospital using the Super Lynx helicopter, December 27, 2014.
Royal Malaysian Navy personnel help to give out aid to flood evacuees in Kuala Krai, December 27, 2014.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
The prime minister had cut short his holiday in the US to return home following widespread public anger over pictures of him playing golf with US president Barack Obama in sunny Hawaii while Malaysia was being deluged by what some claim to be its worst flood in decades.
Upset Malaysians took to posting messages on Najib’s Facebook account, calling him home to lead the rescue efforts.
Najib said, however, that during his time abroad, he had been in constant contact with the authorities back home.
“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.
“While I have been away, I have been in constant contact with the National Security Council and the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee, who have assured me that they are doing everything they can to help those who have been affected. But I want to see the situation for myself and be with the people,” he said in a brief statement from his office yesterday.
