2010 north Malaysian floods
Encyclopedia
The 2010 north Malaysian floods were a series of floods concentrated in the Malaysian states of Kedah
and Perlis
in November 2010. The floods saw around 50,000 people evacuated and left at least four people dead, while shutting down major transport routes into the states.
. The rainfall also caused flooding in neighbouring Thailand
.
was also closed after its runway was flooded, leaving helicopters as the only mode of aerial transport into Kedah and Perlis. The floods also contaminated water supply in Kedah and Perlis, forcing the states to receive supplies from the neighbouring state of Perak
.
Rice production, a key industry in Kedah and Perlis, was badly affected by the floods. According to the federal government, over 45,000 hectares of rice fields were damaged in Kedah alone. The government pledged 26 million ringgit in aid to farmers in both states.
The floods killed at least four people in Kedah, including a foreign national. Around 50,000 people were evacuated, the floods even affecting the house of Kedah's Chief Minister Azizan Abdul Razak
. In Perlis, the floods submerged over two-thirds of the state's land in water.
The north-eastern state of Kelantan
was also affected by the floods, causing the closure of some schools.
criticised the Kedah State government (led by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, an opponent of Chor's Barisan Nasional
coalition) for what he considered a slow response to the floods and the government's inexperience. Chor's own home in Alor Setar was flooded. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin
claimed the State government had a responsibility to assist victims of the flood. Kedah's Chief Minister Azizan argued that his government's response had been "quick" and that 300,000 ringgit in aid had been committed to the affected areas. Kedah's Sultan Abdul Halim called publicly for politics to be set aside for the purposes of dealing with the floods.
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
and Perlis
Perlis
Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia. It lies at the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has Satun and Songkhla Provinces of Thailand on its northern border. It is bordered by the state of Kedah to the south...
in November 2010. The floods saw around 50,000 people evacuated and left at least four people dead, while shutting down major transport routes into the states.
Background
The floods were caused by heavy rainfall in early November 2010 following a tropical depressionCyclone Jal
Severe Cyclonic Storm Jal , also known as Cyclone Jal, is the fifth named cyclonic storm and the fourth Severe Cyclonic Storm of the 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Jal developed from a low pressure area in the South China Sea that organized into a Tropical Depression on . Jal is a Sanskrit...
. The rainfall also caused flooding in neighbouring Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
Damage
The floods affected transportation in and around Kedah and Perlis, shutting down rail and closing roads including the North-South Expressway. Alor Setar's Sultan Abdul Halim AirportSultan Abdul Halim Airport
Sultan Abdul Halim Airport is an airport that serves Alor Setar, a city in the state of Kedah in Malaysia.The airport, located in Kepala Batas, 13 km away from town, can handle up to 800,000 ppa. The new terminal is already operational by 5 May 2006 to cater for future traffic growth...
was also closed after its runway was flooded, leaving helicopters as the only mode of aerial transport into Kedah and Perlis. The floods also contaminated water supply in Kedah and Perlis, forcing the states to receive supplies from the neighbouring state of Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
.
Rice production, a key industry in Kedah and Perlis, was badly affected by the floods. According to the federal government, over 45,000 hectares of rice fields were damaged in Kedah alone. The government pledged 26 million ringgit in aid to farmers in both states.
The floods killed at least four people in Kedah, including a foreign national. Around 50,000 people were evacuated, the floods even affecting the house of Kedah's Chief Minister Azizan Abdul Razak
Azizan Abdul Razak
Dato' Seri Azizan bin Abdul Razak is the Menteri Besar of the Malaysian state of Kedah. His Parti Islam Se-Malaysia leads a coalition government of Kedah with PKR and the DAP after their victory in the 2008 Malaysian election. Ustaz Azizan is the first Menteri Besar of Kedah from a political...
. In Perlis, the floods submerged over two-thirds of the state's land in water.
The north-eastern state of Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
was also affected by the floods, causing the closure of some schools.
Reactions
The floods triggered immediate political fallout. The Federal Minister for Housing and Local Government and Alor Setar MP Chor Chee HeungChor Chee Heung
Dato' Chor Chee Heung ; is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Alor Setar constituency in Kedah, Malaysia...
criticised the Kedah State government (led by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, an opponent of Chor's Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
coalition) for what he considered a slow response to the floods and the government's inexperience. Chor's own home in Alor Setar was flooded. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin
Muhyiddin Yassin
Tan Sri Muhyiddin bin Yassin is a Malaysian politician and the current Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Education. He is also the Deputy President of the United Malays National Organisation , the main component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.Muhyiddin grew up in the state...
claimed the State government had a responsibility to assist victims of the flood. Kedah's Chief Minister Azizan argued that his government's response had been "quick" and that 300,000 ringgit in aid had been committed to the affected areas. Kedah's Sultan Abdul Halim called publicly for politics to be set aside for the purposes of dealing with the floods.