Eight people were killed in floods In Malaysia

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

Authorities have confirmed that at least eight people have died as a result of the floods that have ravaged Malaysia, as the government faces criticism from the public and opposition legislators over its rescue operations.

Floods are frequent on Malaysia's eastern coast between October and March during the yearly monsoon season, but particularly heavy rain that began on Friday has put a burden on emergency services across the country.

 

With significant floods in Selangor, the country's wealthiest and most populous district, Malaysia's army and other security agencies have been deployed throughout seven states.

According to the state news agency Bernama, eight persons were found dead in the floodwaters in Selangor on Monday.

 

Four of them are in Taman Sri Muda, a neighbourhood in the Shah Alam district where many residents are still reported to be stuck in their homes and apartment buildings due to a lack of boats and staff.

According to official data, the number of evacuees in the country increased to almost 51,000 on Monday, with the worst-affected location being the eastern state of Pahang, where 32,000 people were forced to flee their homes.

However, with communication lines down in many sections of the state, it's unclear how many more people need to be saved.

 

Selangor, the country's wealthiest and most populous state, which surrounds the capital Kuala Lumpur, has been particularly hard hit, which is uncommon because it usually avoids the brunt of the monsoon floods.

On Monday, opposition MPs chastised the government for their slow response.

"This will be the third night, and people are still yelling for boats," Democratic Action Party MP Hannah Yeoh told reporters in parliament.

"We want (the government) to mobilise aid right away so we don't have to look for bodies anymore."

 

At a statement issued on Monday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he has directed all authorities to execute "more active" activities to assist those affected in Taman Sri Muda.

After being confined in their home for more than two days, Taman Sri Muda homeowner Sazuatu Remly, 43, and her family were rescued by friends on Monday.

"We never received support from the government; we only received help from the parents of the children I was caring for," she told the Reuters news agency.

"I sincerely hope that authorities can respond faster and pay more attention to the people here."