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A man pushes his bicycle throughfloodwaters in Kota Bharu on December 28, 2014. Photographer: Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images

Malaysia evacuated more than 160,000 people and increased relief efforts as the worst floods in decades left at least 10 people dead. Parts of Thailand and Sri Lanka have also been inundated.

The affected states are Kelantan, Kedah, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Johor, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, according to state news agency Bernama. The dead include an 18-month old toddler, The Star newspaper reported today.

Malaysia is grappling with floods
caused by annual monsoon rains that may disrupt output of its key exports of palm oil and rubber.

Prime Minister Najib Razak returned to Malaysia yesterday from the U.S. amid criticism for being on holiday while the nation contends with the flooding. “The situation is most critical where the water level is still rising in some areas, and there are also areas which were never flooded previously, but are now facing serious floods,” Najib was cited by Bernama as saying at a press briefing yesterday in northeastern Kelantan state.

“I strongly hope for cooperation from everyone to ensure that in the first phase, we can concentrate on rescue efforts and providing aid such as food, blankets, mats, candles and so on.”
The government has allocated an
additional 500 million ringgit ($143 million) to help victims, after it earlier approved 50 million ringgit in aid, according to a report on The Star’s website citing Najib. These are the worst floods in Malaysia in 30 years, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was reported as saying by New Straits Times newspaper.
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