Malaysia's floods crisis worsened today with more downpours that forced five relief centres to reopen in southern Johor state.

Nearly 63,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes, the official Bernama news agency said.

The number of evacuees peaked at 90,000 on the weekend but had halved until the situation worsened again on Tuesday.

The death toll from the worst floods in decades stands at eight, while the search for a missing 17-year-old boy who went missing several days ago continues.

The Star newspaper quoted Works Minister Samy Vellu as saying some RM81 million worth of damage had been caused to roads and bridges, half of it in Johor.

Electricity authorities shut down power to Kota Tinggi, one of the worst-affected districts in Johor, as floodwaters rose from 0.3m to 0.6m Tuesday night, Bernama said. Major roads in the state remain closed.

The government has announced aid for 33,000 students affected by the floods, who will receive funds to replace school uniforms and books before the school year resumes on Jan 3.

The heavy monsoon rains have also affected central Pahang state and the tourist destination of Malacca, where thousands are sheltering in relief centres.

Newspaper reports said crocodiles were menacing flood victims and stealing chickens from backyard coops, and that pythons and cobras had also been spotted in abandoned houses.