Malaysia cancels ministers’ leaves as flash flood kills 3 people and displaces 90,000 – Firstpost

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim banned cabinet members from going on leave on Friday after more than 90,000 people were displaced this week by spiraling floods that authorities fear could be the country’s worst disaster in a decade.

“All ministers have been asked to continue their duties and retire to their seats,” Anwar told reporters, according to a video posted online by state broadcaster Bernama TV.

When asked whether the ministers’ leave had been frozen, Anwar replied: “Yes.”

Flooding is common along the east coast of peninsular Malaysia during the monsoon period between October and March, but this week’s torrential rain has led to mass evacuations, mostly in the northeastern state of Kelantan, which borders Thailand.

According to the National Disaster Command Center, three people died and 94,778 people were evacuated to 527 temporary shelters in nine states; Kelantan and its neighbor Terengganu were the worst affected. No further details about the deaths were provided.

Videos posted on social media showed overflowing rivers, submerged cars and flooded houses.

Heavy showers are expected in eight states by Saturday, with dangerous levels of rain expected in many areas in Kelantan and Terengganu, the Meteorological Department said.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Zahid Hamidi said this week that the floods were expected to be more severe than in 2014, when nearly a quarter of a million people were forced to flee their homes.

Ahmad Zahid said the government has deployed more than 82,000 security personnel, as well as rescue boats, four-wheel drive vehicles and helicopters.

The flood also affected seven provinces in southern Thailand; There have been four deaths so far and more than 240,000 households have been affected, according to the interior ministry.