Ameer Ali Mydin, managing director of Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad, said while he does not condone theft, he understands that those who did so were desperate.

Shah Alam police had said that in addition to the Mydin store, KK Mart, 7-Eleven and Pasaraya Jimat had been looted by residents wading through flood waters at Taman Sri Muda between 1pm to 2pm yesterday.

In a statement, Ameer also said the floods had caused losses of “millions of ringgit”.

“Honestly, I do not support their theft, but at a time of emergency, they would probably have had no choice but to do such a thing to stay alive.

“Sincerely, I would like to make halal what they have done as they were merely trying to stay alive as aid had come in late,” he said.

Police and General Operations Force members have been ordered to guard the row of shops affected by looting at Taman Sri Muda.