Forget your holidays, come back home, PM tells ministers as flood deaths pass 40

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged his Cabinet members to cancel their holiday plans and return to Malaysia if they are already abroad, as the nation prepares for more of the floods that have so far claimed more than 40 lives.

“I have instructed all ministers who are planning to go on vacation abroad to cancel their trips, and for those currently abroad to return immediately in order to help the Malaysian Family,” he said today, referring to his “Keluarga Malaysia” tagline.

This comes as the death toll from the floods which ravaged major townships in the Klang Valley and other states climbed to 41, more than the casualties caused by the 2014 floods which saw some 200,000 displaced.

Ruling politicians at both the federal and state levels have come under public criticism over their perceived failure to mobilise evacuation and rescue efforts in Selangor, which bore the brunt of the floods.

Heavy rain since last weekend had caused major parts of Shah Alam and Klang, as well as Hulu Langat to be inundated with water.

More rain is expected after Christmas, with the Malaysian Meteorological Department warning of strong winds and rain between Dec 27 and 30.

“This will likely cause continuous rain in eastern Johor, eastern Sabah and western Sarawak from Dec 28 to 30.

“Strong winds and rough seas are forecast in the South China Sea including the waters off the east coast of the peninsula from Dec 26 to 30,” the department said.