Malaysia PM cuts short holiday to deal with floods

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak . AP FILE PHOTO

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is cutting short his U.S. vacation to deal with the worst floods in the country in decades that have killed five people and displaced more than 100,000.

Authorities have evacuated numerous villages and towns in five Malaysian states that were inundated following unusually strong torrential rains. Flood monitoring centers say more than 105,000 people are living in schools, community halls and other relief centers.

Najib has come under fire for going on holidays in Hawaii, where he was seen golfing with President Barack Obama.

He says he will return to Malaysia on Saturday, heading straight to flood-ravaged Kelantan state to oversee response to the floods.

RELATED STORY

More than 100,000 evacuated in 4 flood-hit states in Malaysia