KUALA LUMPUR: Najib Razak said the federal government would assist any state affected by disasters such as floods based on humanitarian grounds and responsibility.

The prime minister said the federal government would immediately channel aid to the state governments, including those administered by the opposition parties, without the need for the state government  requesting for it.

The floods that hit Penang following continuous heavy rain last night saw more than 2,000 victims being evacuated.

It prompted Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to contact Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at 3.30am to request assistance from the armed forces and the National Security Council (MKN) to help flood victims in Penang.

Najib said armed forces chief Gen Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Nor would be leaving for Penang this afternoon.

“Everything will be coordinated by the National Security Council and we will assist flood victims and look into their needs,” he said after launching the field hospital building and operating mission to help the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh here today.

He also inspected the dry run of the field hospital’s operation, held at the Tunku Mizan Zainal Abidin Hospital for the armed forces here.

Asked on the strength of military personnel to be deployed to Penang, Najib said the matter would be determined by the armed forces chief.

Armed forces personnel helping flood victims

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, who was present, reassured Guan Eng of help from the armed forces.

He said the 509 Territorial Army monitoring team was deployed as early as 1.30am while the operations room was activated at 4.30am to channel assistance.

Elaborating further, Raja Mohamed Affandi said over 200 military personnel had been deployed to several areas in Penang to help flood victims.

“Personnel and assets have been deployed early this morning and we are ready to increase personnel at any time and will focus on providing relief after floods recede,” he said.

It is feared the flood situation may worsen as the weatherman has forecast more rain for the state over the next day or two.

In Kedah, some 1,025 flood victims were evacuated to 24 flood relief centres in three districts — Kulim, Kuala Muda and Gurun — following continuous rain since yesterday.

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