LIVE BLOG FLOODS Malaysiakini brings the latest updates on the flood situation as they happen.
Latest developments:
- Donors for A and AB blood wanted
Flood situation improving, flood victims down to 91,000
The flood situation in Kelantan and Terengganu have improved leading to a drop in the number of victims tonight, according to Bernama. Fine weather since five days ago allowed the flood victims to return home.
In Kelantan, the number of victims in 166 relief centres dropped to 30,309 compared to 42,163, said the State National Security Council (NSC).
In Terengganu, the flood situation has improved with the number of victims down to 7,753 tonight compared to 8,664 in the afternoon.
In Perak, the number of flood victims rose to 7,428 from 2,024 families compared to 7,412 victims from 2,018 families in the afternoon.
In Johor, the number of flood victims remain at least 138 people from two districts, namely Segamat (93) and Batu Pahat (45).
Pahang has now the highest number of victims, which remain at 45,366 people in 215 relief centres.
Pahang - 45,366
Kelantan - 30,309
Terengganu - 7,753
Perak - 7,428
Johor - 138
Total - 90,994
Donors for A and AB blood wanted
10.59pm: The supplies of A and AB blood are not enough to meet the needs of patients, especially in states which are affected by the floods.
Deputy Health Minister Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the people should donate blood immediately at the nearest Blood Donation Campaign Mobile Unit or the National Blood Centre because the supply of blood especially the A and AB groups was low.
"I urge the public to donate blood to help hospitals which are running low on A and AB blood. Donations can be made at any state and not only those affected by the floods.
"To date, other types of blood are adequate. But we don't have enough A and AB blood, they are inadequate and their usage especially in states which were affected by the floods is very critical."
US expresses sympathy, offers help
7.54pm: United States Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed sympathy for the flood victims in Malaysia and offered US' disaster relief assistance for those affected.
In a statement today, Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman said he received a phone call from Kerry last night on the current flood situation in Malaysia.
He said Kerry ( left ) also extended the US' condolences to the families of the victims of the AirAsia flight QZ8501 crash and stated US support for the recovery effort.
Anifah expressed his gratitude to Kerry for the call and his appreciation for the sympathy, condolences and assistance offered.
"Malaysia acknowledges the concern shown by the United States of America and will continue to work together with the US government to facilitate the assistance offered," he said.
Over 1,000 substations still not running
7pm:
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) says electricity supply has been reinstated fully in Terengganu today after operations at all substations are restored.
TNB flood management chief coordinator Abdul Aziz Abdul Majid adds that the power situation in Pahang and Perak is improving as well, with more substations being operational.
However, there still remain 1,036 substations in Kelantan which are not running and he said, over 30 mobile generators have been deployed to improve conditions in that state.
RM23 for nasi campur in Tanah Merah
6.41pm: Bernama reports food prices in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, has sky-rocketed almost five-fold due to the floods.
A journalist from the national news agency was charged RM23 for a plate of rice with mackerel ( ikan kembung ) and long beans, as well as a glass of hot tea, which would normally cost RM5.
"The stall apologised and said there was difficulty in obtaining raw material as they have to travel to Kota Bharu, which is 70km away," says the journalist.
Meanwhile, in Kemaman, Terengganu, residents are out on the streets picking up mud lobsters which have been washed inland after flood water receded, reports Berita Harian .
It is unclear if the exotic crustacean came from its natural habitat or was washed up from commercial farms.
Preliminary loss in Kelantan RM200mil
6.30pm: The preliminary estimated damage cost in Kelantan and Terengganu alone have exceeded a quarter billion ringgit.
Kelantan flood disaster committee chief Mustapa Mohamed, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, says the damage in the state so far, is estimated at RM200 million.
They include RM100 million damaged suffered by the Works Department, RM10 million to Tenaga Nasional Berhad infrastructure, RM8 million by the police, RM3 million by the state water operator, and RM10 million by the health department in Kota Bharu alone.
He says the final figure will only be known after the flood completely subsides and the figure is expected to be significantly higher.
Earlier, Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman says RM132 million is needed just to repair the state's roads, bringing the preliminary figure in both states to RM332 million.
More and more return home
5pm: The number of flood evacuees is down to 94,899 people, from 111,855 at 10am, reports the National Security Council.
A check by Malaysiakini at 5pm found that the number of those displaced in Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu show immense improvements.
The number of those displaced in Kelantan has reduced by over 11,000 people, while those affected in Pahang and Terengganu dropped by some 3,000 and 2,000, respectively.
There is a slight increase in the number of evacuees in Perak, while the condition in Johor remains unchanged.
The latest figures are:
- Kelantan – 32,310 (-11,771)
- Pahang – 47,099(-3,173)
- Terengganu – 7,940(-2,111)
- Perak – 7,412 (+99)
- Johor - 138 (unchanged)
RM132mil to repair roads in T'ganu
4.36pm: An allocation of RM132 million is needed to repair roads damaged by the floods in Terengganu, says Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman.
According to Bernama , the cost, assessed by the Public Works Department, includes RM108 million for repair of federal roads and RM24 million for state roads.
"Most of the roads are in the districts of Kemaman and Dungun," he says.
3.36pm: Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin calls for restoration works in flood-affected areas to commence immediately, Bernama reports .
The registration of flood victims and amount of losses, he adds, should also be hastened to speed up government assistance to those affected.
Injured cops now stable
3pm: The four wounded in the police helicopter crash yesterday while delivering flood supplies are now in stable condition, the official police Facebook page confirms.
The injured personnel were visited today by Bukit Aman's Internal Security and Public Order Department director Fuad Abu Zarim at Hospital Tanah Merah, Kelantan.
Yesterday, the police helicopter crash-landed at the Kursial residential area at 6.30pm in Tanah Merah while delivering aid to flood victims.
Anwar: Worst flood in history
1pm: PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in his new year message mourns the many tragedies the past year has seen, in particular the flood disaster.
“The curtains come down on 2014 full of sorrow and tragedy, with a massive flood that hit most of the East Coast, especially Kelantan.
“With the number of flood victims that is recorded in hundreds of thousands, it can be classified as the worst flood in history.
“My heartfelt condolences for those affected by the disaster, may they continue to persevere,” he says.
He notes the year has left Malaysians "with a thousand and one worries", listing the many tragedies such as the triple airline disasters of MH370, MH17, and now AirAsia’s QZ8501, the water crisis, and the haze earlier in the year, in addition to the political and economic troubles the country has faced.
"It is certainly a reminder from God, that we do not become complacent and continue to be complacent," he says.
LPT highway still inaccessible
12.30: A segment on the East Coast Highway along the stretch from Lanchang to Chenor - at km124 and km126 - is still closed due to floods around Temerloh, Pahang, highway authorities confirms on its official Twitter page.
However, flood waters there are receding, and the current closure of the stretch is for safety reasons, Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia tweets.
East-West Highway to open on Jan 7
12.20pm: Works Minister Fadillah Yusof says the East-West Highway, connecting Gerik to Jeli, is expected to re-open on Jan 7, reports Bernama .
11am: The number of flood evacuees increases from 107,540 at 8am to 111,855 currently, reports Bernama .
Pahang has had a surge of over 4,000 people displaced from the floods compared to earlier this morning, while Terengganu reports a slight drop in figures.
The number of evacuees in Kelantan, Perak and Johor remain unchanged. The latest figures are:
- Kelantan – 44,081 (unchanged)
- Pahang – 50,272 (+4,437)
- Terengganu – 10,051 (-122)
- Perak – 7,313 (unchanged)
- Johor - 138 (unchanged)
8.30am: The government’s disaster website brings some good news recording number of evacuees are down by roughly 20,000. The latest figures are:
- Johor: 138
- Kelantan: 44,081
- Pahang: 45,835
- Perak: 7,313
- Terengganu: 10,173
- Kelantan: 10
- Pahang: 3
- Terengganu: 4
The first time Malaysia did not usher the new year was during the arrival of 2005 since Dec 26, 2004 saw a monstrous tsunami claim more than 200,000 casualties in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Events lined in Putrajaya, Dataran Merdeka and states like Malacca, Penang, Pahang, Negri Sembilan were cancelled as a mark of respect for the people who are suffering from the massive floods in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Selangor, Perlis, Kedah and Johor.
The year 2014 has also been full of airline tragedies for Malaysia, especially the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 and flight MH17.
The latest incident was the AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501 tragedy in the Java SEA.
Prime Minister Najib Razak is now in Kelantan to visit flood victims and view the damages caused by the worst floods in 40 years.
Instead of fireworks which normally mark the arrival of the new year, mosques, temples and other places of worship organised prayers for the well being of the flood victims and the families of those who perished in airline tragedies.
