Come home, help flood victims instead of golfing in Hawaii, Najib told

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (left) enjoyed a round of golf with US President Barack at the Clipper Golf course on Marine Corps Base Hawaii during Obama's Christmas holiday in Kaneohe, Hawaii, yesterday. Many Malaysians have criticised Najib for being away while the country is going through some of the worst floods in history. – Reuters pic, December 25, 2014. 

Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Facebook page was today inundated with messages, including calls for him to return and lead the flood relief operations, as reports surfaced of him playing golf with US president Barack Obama.

As the flood situation worsened in five states, forcing 90,250 people to be evacuated from their homes, especially in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, Facebook users told Najib not to be an absentee prime minister during this time of need.

When Najib posted a message on the floods shortly before midnight yesterday – telling the people that all government agencies and machinery had been mobilised to handle the disaster and manage relief efforts to help victims – more than 1,000 Facebook users responded with comments.

Izhar Ridzuan posted a comment on Najib's posting today, pleading for him to return home immediately.

"The number of flood victims has gone up to over 90,000. It is true Datuk Seri has instructed the ministries, departments, agencies and officers under you to act immediately.

"But is it not better for you to go to the ground yourself to monitor the relief operations this time? Don't just depend on your officers. Come home immediately, Datuk Seri," he said.

Lailatulkadriah Jamil told Najib to cancel New Year’s Eve celebrations and channel the money to help flood victims, who had lost their homes.

"...Hentikanlah hiburan. dh terlalu byk progrem hiburan yg melalaikan...musibah tanda amaran dr allah utk hambanya yg leka.bangkit dr leka dunia yg sementara."

(Stop all the entertainment. There are enough events like that. [This] disaster is a warning from Allah to his servants. Wake up from being engrossed in this temporary world.)

Tinie Aziz also urged Najib to cancel all New Year’s Eve celebrations and hold prayers for flood victims.

By midday, Najib's Facebook page was also flooded with criticism and angry comments by many Malaysians, who had read news that he was in Hawaii playing golf with Obama.

The Washington Post had run a story that Obama was enjoying his Christmas break in Hawaii and reported that Najib was part of the "First Foursome" who played golf with the president at the Marine Corps base course in Kanahoe Bay.

Many Facebook users criticised Najib, who is no stranger to being criticised over his frequent absence from the country, for not being around this time when so many Malaysians were in trouble.

Few were subtle in their comments, like Muhammad Faiz who posted: "Bukan memaki bukan menghina tapi dimana kepentingan utama?" (Not cursing or insulting but where is the priority?)

Others like Hafiz Marley asked if Najib had a good time playing golf. Mrozan Bahari posted a cheeky comment: "Bagus jibby...lepas golf, gi layan ice skating plak dgn putin ye.." (Good Najib... after you play golf, go ice skating with Russian President Vladimir Putin.)

One Hafiz Al-Muhandis slammed Najib, saying: "Your people are fighting with their lives against the floods. You should be back. Can't be that playing golf with Obama, Israel's ally, is more important. It is sad to have a prime minister like this."

Ac Hart commented in Malay: "Dato' Seri dekat mana ya sekarang? Dato' Seri dah jemu kot Jadi PERDANA MENTERI? wink Xtau la mana 1 keutamaan Dato' Seri.....hurmmmm.....kalau benar bagai dikhabarkan....Mmg serius Dato' Seri akan terima nasib yg x berapa baik menjelang Election nnt...."

(Datuk Seri, where are you now? Datuk Seri, are you bored of being the prime minister? Don't know which is your priority... hurmmmm... if it is true....seriously Datuk Seri's luck won't be good when the election comes later.)

Another Facebook user Skuri Atau Bakat joked: "Positif. pm g dapatkan idea mcm mana nk atasi masalah banjir dgn obama...Kah kah" (Positive. PM went to get ideas from Obama on how to overcome floods.)

Earlier today, Bernama reported that some 90,250 people have been evacuated in five states hit by worsening floods. It is believed that this is the highest number of flood victims evacuated in the nation’s history.

The highest number of people evacuated are in Kelantan at 32,343, followed by Terengganu (28,991), Pahang (24,316), Perak (4,335) and Perlis (265).

The Finance Ministry has approved an immediate allocation of RM50 million for flood-hit states, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Husni Hanadzlah, according to Bernama. 

- TMI