Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is is overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern many Malaysians have shown to the victims reeling under the onslaught of the annual floods hitting the East Coast states this year.

Najib noted that various parties had come forward to offer contributions in the form of labour, money and even moral support.

"Their compassion and efforts have truly showcased the meaning of 1Malaysia, as everybody came together to help, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.

"The federal and state governments will do their best to ensure that the lives of those affected by the floods will return to normalcy.

"Many people have been unable to work and provide for their families, and the economies of states affected by the floods have suffered from the disaster," Najib said in his blog posting today.

Stunned by the havoc

He said the nation had been stunned by the havoc wreaked by the annual floods hitting the East Coast states this year, as tens of thousands of victims had to be evacuated from their homes, with many more incurring substantial losses.

"I went to survey affected areas in Kuantan, Rompin, and Pekan, at the earliest opportunity, meeting victims who have made the flood relief centres their makeshift home.

"Despite having their lives turned upside down, I could see the upbeat spirit and tremendous resilience on the faces of these affected families," added Najib.

He said that at the temporary relief centre in Sekolah Sains Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Pekan – where 500 flood victims were placed – the victims revealed how much more challenging the floods would have been for them, had no one come forward to provide the much-needed aid.

"In the beginning, the non-stop downpour hindered rescue operations, cutting off access to the victims, but the initial problems were soon resolved. Well done, to all government agencies such as the health department and other departments involved, as well as the village heads who gave their all to ensure that basic supplies reached the victims."

Najib said the extreme floods and the recent mud flood which struck Cameron Highlands last October were strong indicators of the climate change facing the planet.

"There will be more natural disasters and they will worsen. It is critical that the federal and state governments perform a thorough re-evaluation of the systems and procedures in place to mitigate floods and other natural disasters.

"We must be better equipped to face bigger challenges brought about by global climate change.

"This includes reviewing rescue and relief efforts, temporary re-location of victims, dissemination of information and disaster warnings, as well as efforts to rehabilitate affected areas and resume normal economic activities," he added.

In the meantime, he urged Malaysians to step forward and help the victims in the current trying times.

"Each contribution you make, is a promise of hope for them".

- Bernama