After the flak Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak received for being absent as the country faced its worst flooding in decades, BN supporters have taken aim at Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who is also overseas.

 

"Do you know the Penang government's RM1.5 million allocation cannot be channelled to flood victims as Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is on holiday until next year?

 

"The money can only be channelled when Lim returns next year," said Friends of BN page in a posting on Facebook .

 

The pro-BN page also posted pictures of Lim in thick clothing, claiming that he is on holiday in France. However, these photos appeared to be old photos of Lim.

 

In an immediate response, Penang exco in charge of welfare, caring society and environment Phee Boon Poh rebutted the claim, stating that the funds was already being disbursed.

" The Penang government is disappointed with the false claim posted on Friends of BN today , misleading the public ... This is a black lie! " said Phee ( below ) in a statement.

 

He added the RM1.5 million have already been transferred to the state government's consolidated trust account.

 

"I have been authorised to draw down RM500,000 each time to utilise the fund to supply aids such as milk powder, sanitary towel, and potable water. 

 

"Documentations to be followed with in the next exco meeting. This is also with the consent of the exco members," he said in a statement today.

 

He added that Lim is in contact with him on a daily basis for reports on the flood situation.

 

Phee did not disclose the exact whereabouts of Lim but the chief minister is believed to be overseas.

 

'Aid already on the way'

 

Yesterday, the Penang government announced a RM1.5 million allocation to assist flood-hit states after Selangor announced a similar allocation on the same day.

 

Penang and Selangor are unaffected by the flooding.

 

Phee said the first consignment of aid supervised by Komtar state assemblyperson Teh Lai Heng has already departed for Kelantan.

More will follow on Monday, he said, as the state government makes logistical arrangements to access hard-to-reach flood zones.

 

Najib had earned flak for golfing with US president Barack Obama in Hawaii on Christmas eve while the country faced a national crisis.

 

The premier later sought to placate the angry response on Facebook , posting a photograph of himself on the phone with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

 

Muhyiddin has been overseeing the flood relief operation in Najib’s absence.

 

However, the posting did little to help and Najib yesterday announced he will return to the country to oversee the crisis.

 

He arrived in Kota Bharu this afternoon and was briefed by the national security council.

 

More than 130,000 people have been displaced by severe flooding in eight states in Peninsular Malaysia as of this morning.