Floods force Malaysians from their homes

World Today

Malaysia’s worst floods in decades have hit some of the poorest parts of the country. The floods have forced nearly a quarter-million from their homes. CCTV’s Rian Maelzer reported from northeastern Malaysia.

The bustle is starting to return to Kelantan state’s capital, Kota Bahru. But there’s still a long way to go before life, and business, returns to normal here after flood water inundated the city over the weekend bringing huge amounts of mud with it.

Crews are starting to clear the mud from the streets, though piles of soiled and sodden goods lie scattered everywhere. This town in the state’s interior was hit even harder.

The floods have affected several states, and damaged crops, with vegetable prices rising up to 300 per cent in some parts of the country. The flooding is also expected to hit the production of palm oil and rubber which in turn hits the incomes of many people in Kelantan.

Across the state, people are assessing the damage to their homes, and shop owners are dragging out their damaged goods.

So far the predicted return of heavy rains haven’t materialized, giving people in Kelantan hope that the worst of the flooding is over, and that can begin to rebuild their businesses and their lives.