Najib, enjoy your break as flood worsens, says PAS leader
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is correct, the prime minister deserves a break in Hawaii for his "hard work" in administering the country, a PAS leader has said, as the nation faces its worst floods in history.
In a sarcastic statement, Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar congratulated Datuk Seri Najib for his hard work, including having "resolved" the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy through a "covert meeting with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad".
He added sarcastically that the country's economy was also thriving under Najib's stewardship, despite the falling value of the ringgit and the global oil slump.
"Indeed, Najib is the best prime minister in the country's history. He is willing to travel far away to meet President (Barack) Obama to obtain advice and solve our country's problems," said the PAS information chief.
Mahfuz said he hoped the country's "best prime minister" could spare a prayer for the flood victims in Malaysia, in between golf sessions in Hawaii with the US president.
Mahfuz was responding to Tan Sri Muhyiddin's statement yesterday that the public should be fair to Najib, who deserved a holiday because he had been working so hard.
Muhyiddin had also said the public need not worry about Najib's absence, as he had put his faith in the deputy prime minister to monitor relief efforts for the flood victims.
"If I cannot handle the issue, then I will call Najib to return to Malaysia," he quipped.
Yesterday, Malaysians took to social media to urge the country's premier to return home and lead the flood relief operations, as reports surfaced of him enjoying golf with Obama.
The Washington Post had run a story that Obama was enjoying his Christmas break in Hawaii and reported that Najib was part of the "First Foursome" who played golf with the president at the Marine Corps base couse in Kanahoue Bay.
When Najib posted a message on the floods shortly before midnight on Thursday, more than 1,000 Facebook users responded with comments.
By midday yesterday, his Facebook was flooded with criticism and angry comments by Malaysians who had read the news of his golf session.
Najib, who is no stranger to being criticised overe his frequent absence from the country and in Parliament, was condemned for being absent when so many Malaysians were in trouble.
"It is true what the deputy prime minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said: let Najib have his break. He is an ordinary human being," said Mahfuz today. "Congratulations and enjoy your holidays, prime minister."
Rising flood waters in Kota Baru, Kelantan yesterday prompted the evacuation of several patients at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital. The Star reported that the patients were moved to the University Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian.
The situation in the East Coast state continues to deteriorate with more rain expected, the paper reported.
The number of evacuees in 153 evacuation centres statewide has exceeded 32,000, with most major rivers breaching the danger level.
The Star reported that 90,250 had been evacuated as of 9am Thursday in five states ravaged by floods.
Kelantan had the highest number of evacuees at 32,343, followed by Terengganu (28,991), Pahang (24,316), Perak (4,335) and Perlis (265).
But the number of flood victims in Kelantan has dropped by 2,876 this morning compared with last night, bringing the total to 32,079 victims, the Welfare Department said today.
National news agency Bernama also reported that Muhyiddin has arrived in Kelantan this morning to oversee the flood situation there. – December 26, 2014.
