Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor said the state government sympathised with their plight.

He said the federal government, through entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister Ewon Benedick, who is the Penampang MP, would also be lending a hand.

Yesterday, Ewon allocated RM20,000 in immediate aid to flood victims in the area.

Hajiji said the state government would also consider assisting those who were not evacuated to the temporary shelter but whose houses have been badly damaged by the floods.

District officer Francis Chong said 11 villages in Penampang were inundated with floodwaters after the downpour on Sunday.

Last night, it was reported that flash floods hit Penampang and Sipitang after hours of heavy rain from early afternoon. Many roads were rendered impassable.

Parts of Kota Kinabalu and Penampang were also hit by a power cut.