Terengganu MB apologises for being absent during floods

PETALING JAYA: Terengganu Menteri Besar Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar has apologised for not being in the state when floods hit.

He said he would not try to justify his absence but said he was monitoring the floods from overseas.

"I understand that whatever I say now will not mean anything.

"However, I want to put it on record that I was monitoring the flood situation and I decided to travel overseas when there were signs that the floods were receding (before the floods peaked from Dec 18 to 21)," he said during a press conference on Friday (Dec 23).

Ahmad Samsuri also said he had visited flood victims during the first phase of floods on Dec 9 and 10.

He also said that the state government, along with relevant agencies, had begun flood preparations months ago.

"When floods struck, we observed conditions of the rivers in real time using CCTVs and used other equipment to monitor river levels.

"Even during my absence from Dec 18 to 21, I was communicating with the relevant agencies for updates. Matters that did not require my authority as Mentri Besar were handled by the heads of respective agencies," he said, adding that he was always available to discuss matters with the state exco and even made certain decisions when he was overseas.

Samsuri also announced cash aid of RM1,000 to heads of households registered as flood victims and RM10,000 for those who lost loved ones to the floods.

However, he admitted that there had been some shortcomings in flood management such as delayed delivery of food packs to victims as well as relocation of victims at relief centres.

I would like to apologise to the people for our shortcomings. We will fix the situation in the near future," he said.

Earlier this week, Samsuri came under fire with some claiming that he made a trip with his family to New Zealand when Terengganu was hit by massive floods.

Pictures of his flight itinerary and car booking in Auckland were spread on social media.

As of Friday morning (Dec 23), there are more than 25,000 victims in Terengganu in 181 flood relief centres.