Prayers for flood victims, rescuers and relief workers (updated 2)

UPDATES 2

This is what DPM TS Muhyiddin Yassin said today about the flood situation as reported by NST;

BY ROZANNA LATIFF AND TEOH PEI YING - 25 DECEMBER 2014 @ 7:06 PM

SUBANG JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today reassured the public that the country was in good hands while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was away.

The deputy prime minister said he would do his best to act on behalf of Najib as the country faces one of the worst floods in its history, with tens of thousands displaced.

"Don't worry, I'm in charge.

"The PM needs time to take a break... he has been working very hard so let's be fair to him as a human being," he told reporters at the Christmas celebration hosted by the Christian Federation of Malaysia here.

Muhyiddin was responding to criticism from several quarters regarding Najib's absence during the floods, which has now seen more than 90,000 people evacuated around the country.

Muhyiddin said he was keeping close contact with Najib while the prime minister was away, and providing the latest updates on the current situation.

He said the government would mobilise all available assets to help in flood rescue operations, and would call on the private sector to assist if needed.

"We may ask some private companies or other agencies not involved with the flood operations to lend their helicopters for this crisis."

"Our priority is the safety of the people, and we will do all we can to save lives even if it costs more than we expected."

He urged the public not to spread false or unsubstantiated rumours in order to avoid adding to the flood victims' distress.

"Rumours such as distress calls and so on are hard to verify which makes it difficult for us and causes people to panic.

"This is not helpful so we hope people will not be taken in by these claims spreading on social media."

Muhyiddin said he has been receiving updates every two hours from the National Security Council on the flood situation and will to continue to advise them on the mobilisation of assets and aid distribution.

Erratic weather patterns, he said, had made it difficult for rescue and aid operations to be carried out as planned, especially in heavily affected areas in Kelantan.

He said his scheduled visit to the state tomorrow may even be disrupted, depending on the weather and flood situation at Pengkalan Chepa airport.

"If that happens, I will resort to Plan B, which is to land in either Kuantan or Terengganu."

He dismissed criticism that the government had been unprepared for the crisis, saying that the extent of the floods had been unexpected.

"We face floods every year but this is looking to be the worst the country has seen in the last 30 years.

"We can prepare all we can, but some things just cannot be predicted. Some things are also out of our control... This is a natural disaster and it can be caused by many things, including climate change and soil erosion."

Despite the seriousness of the crisis, Muhyiddin said there was not yet a need to declare a state of emergency, as several criteria needed to be met.

"Unless there was a total breakdown in electricity or water supply, or if the number of evacuees rises to over hundreds of thousands, we will not declare a state of emergency."

"Even it was declared, the important thing is what we do about it... Ensuring lives are saved and that they have all the essentials they need."

Earlier, Muhyiddin wished all Malaysians a Merry Christmas on behalf of Najib and the government.

He said Christmas was a time for the country to foster peace and harmony.

"These are very challenging times.

"There is a need for us to come together and share our feelings so that we can resolve issues in the best possible manner we can."

UPDATES

Received this request to publish the following from a friend who is a supporter of PM DS Najib Razak.

Here it is,

There are lots of anger that PM Najib is seen playing golf with Obama in Hawaii on Christmas day and that he is not on the ground visiting the flooded east coast or in Malaysia directing flood relief efforts.

However, we have to be realistic and understand that a PM's role is not to direct flood efforts nor to wade thru flood waters to carry victims to safety.

He is better served monitoring the situation and approve allocations and allow the right emergency bodies and his ministers to do their work.

A cursory glance at his twitter and FB page also shows that he has been making frequent updates on the flooding situation: 
https://www.facebook.com/najibrazak?fref=photo


In fact, just 4 days ago, Najib did visit flood victims at the relief center in SMK) Gudang Rasau, Pahang that was holding residents around Sungai Belat. 
http://www.mstar.com.my/…/2014/12/20/pm-lawat-mangsa-banjir/

It's not like he doesn't care or is not updated with the latest. But even if he was on the ground in the flooded areas, there is little he can do and it is actually counter-productive.

Being on the ground is really just a populist photo-opportunity and the publicity and hoo-hah around him could turn out to be a hindrance to relief efforts instead of a help.

Not many people get to play a round of golf on Christmas Day (being the most important festival day for Obama) with the USA presidnet to build relationships - many many more famous world leaders would never have the chance.

Remember that President Obama is the most powerful person on earth and has vast resources at his command.

Who knows? Perhaps Najib could have asked Obama to look into assisting the flood victims in the east coast either via monetary donations or via technical, medical or logistic assistance?

And this is the latest statement issued by Najib just now,

Kenyataan Media

1. Saya telah dimaklumkan bahawa keadaan banjir di beberapa negeri kini semakin teruk dengan jumlah mangsa yang dipindahkan di sesetengah kawasan meningkat dengan mendadak.

2. Saya telah berhubung dan berbincang dengan YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Timbalan Perdana Menteri selaku Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negara bagi mempertingkatkan lagi usaha membantu mangsa-mangsa banjir terutama di kawasan yang terjejas teruk dan berisiko tinggi. Saya telah meminta YAB Timbalan Perdana Menteri mempertingkatkan lagi operasi penghantaran bantuan berupa makanan berikutan wujudnya kesukaran untuk sampai ke  kawasan banjir tertentu.

3. Saya diberitahu antara punca utama usaha memindahkan mangsa-mangsa banjir dan penghantaran barang makanan agak sukar dilakukan di sesetengah  tempat adalah disebabkan paras air yang sangat tinggi, arus deras yang merbahaya untuk kenderaan dan bot penyelamat di samping ada pusat pemindahan yang turut ditenggelami air.

4. Saya juga diberitahu, usaha penghantaran bantuan menerusi helikopter  terganggu berikutan cuaca buruk yang menyukarkan penerbangan dilakukan. Terdapat juga di kawasan tertentu helikopter tidak dapat mendarat untuk menurunkan bantuan berikutan tiada lokasi sesuai berhampiran pusat pemindahan.

5. Saya percaya dan yakin pasukan penyelamat kita yang terdiri daripada pelbagai agensi kerajaan dan anggota sukarelawan sedang bertungkus lumus untuk memberikan bantuan yang terbaik termasuk mencari ikhtiar untuk sampai juga ke lokasi pemindahan yang sukar bagi menyalurkan segala bantuan yang ada.

6. Apapun kerajaan akan memastikan agar segala usaha dilakukan bagi membantu semua mangsa menghadapi banjir yang begitu mencabar pada tahun ini.

Dato' Sri Mohd Najib
25 Disember 2015      

ORIGINAL POST

The flood situation seems to be worsening with the number of evacuated victims getting closer to 100,000 all over the country.

This is via NST SMS alert just now:

NST 25/12 Flood in 5 states showed no signs of letting up, displacing 90,250 people in what is seen as biggest number of flood evacuees in history.

The worst hit is Kelantan.

KB this morning -picture courtesy of a journalist friend.

Fortunately, the authorities seem to have learn something from the big flood which took residents of Kuantan and Kemaman by surprise last year.

They were better prepared this time.

The response to emergencies may not be perfect but seems to be better than during last year's flood.

The situation in Kelantan, though very bad, seems still manageable with rescuers and relief workers doing their best for the victims.

They were however hampered by very bad weather causing some rescue efforts and delivery of relief supplies to be delayed.

Other than messages sent by flood victims, I have also monitored the exchanges between the rescue and relief workers and could feel that they are trying their best with all sincerity to assist the flood victims.

This is a message by a pilot of an air force helicopter to his friends via wassap which was shared with me yesterday by his journalist friend,

"Kawan2 di tudm dah cuba rescue d area manik urai ari ni...tapi cuaca very bad from kelantan and from penang,,,tomorrow first flt depa try masuk lagi...doa yg terbaik...malam ni usaha utk hantar makanan bagi yg terperangkap di area k.lipis...semoga d permudah"

Let's pray for the safety of those affected by the flood and all involved in the rescue and relief efforts.

Those who could afford it, please lend a hand to help.

On my part I will try to do what I can at the place where I am now.

By the way, I don't think anyone should try to exploit the situation like this,

Kelantan floods divine impetus for hudud rollout, claims Nik Aziz's son

It's just not right, okay.