On Friday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia took decisive action in response to an escalating flood crisis by instructing his Cabinet members to remain on duty and refrain from taking leave. This decision comes after the recent displacement of more than 90,000 individuals due to severe flooding, which has raised concerns about it being the most catastrophic flood event the country has faced in the last ten years.

The floods, which primarily affect the east coast of peninsular Malaysia during the monsoon season from October to March, have resulted this week in widespread evacuations. The majority of the affected people are from Kelantan, a northern state bordering Thailand, where the situation has become particularly dire. According to the National Disaster Command Centre, there have been three confirmed deaths, and nearly 95,000 individuals have sought shelter across 527 temporary facilities in nine states, with Kelantan and Terengganu being the hardest hit areas.

Social media has been flooded with distressing images showing rivers overflowing, cars submerged, and homes inundated by rising water levels. As the crisis unfolds, the Meteorological Department has warned residents to expect heavy rainfall in eight states, with particularly dangerous conditions anticipated for various districts in Kelantan and Terengganu throughout the weekend.