Malaysia floods: PM flies back from holiday to visit flood-hit state

Najib Razak cuts short US visit and heads straight to worst-hit area after public criticism of his absence

Flooded streets in Kelantan state, Malaysia, on Saturday (AP)

Malaysia's Prime Minister, Najib Razak, reached the state worst-hit by the country's worst flooding in decades yesterday after cutting short a holiday in America, a trip that saw him face criticism over his reaction to the floods.

The number of people evacuated topped 160,000 yesterday, according to one report in the New Straits Times newspaper, although estimates ranged from just over the 100,000 reported a day before to around 130,000. Malaysian authorities have put the number of deaths due to the flooding at seven, although the toll could be higher.

Mr Najib arrived in Kelantan, which faces the biggest problems among the eight affected states, following his return from Hawaii on Friday after public criticism he had been absent as flooding worsened.

Yesterday, he announced that an additional 500 million ringgit (£91m) will be spent to help victims after the flood subsides, following an initial government allocation of 50 million ringgit two days ago. He also took a helicopter to observe the affected areas in Kelantan state, and visited a number of temporary relief centres to speak to victims of the flooding.

Mr Najib was photographed in recent days playing golf with President Barack Obama in Hawaii, but he defended this as "golf diplomacy" yesterday, saying he had been fully informed about the flooding, and that the game was part of a strategy of establishing diplomatic ties with world leaders for Malaysia's benefit.

"Every day when I was there, I received the latest report on the flood situation... as it became more serious, I decided to return to the country as soon as possible," he said. "I have not even returned home yet." He added that it was difficult to decline the Hawaii plans, as they had been scheduled by both leaders for some time.

Mr Najib attended briefings with the National Security Council, the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee, state government and local emergency responders, a statement on Friday said.

Northeastern peninsular Malaysia, the worst affected part of the country, is regularly hit by flooding during the annual "Northeast Monsoon", but this year's rains have been particularly heavy.

Reuters