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I’m sorry for leaving country during floods, says Terengganu MB

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Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar says he decided to continue with his holiday overseas when he saw signs that the floods were receding.

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Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (centre) has confirmed that he was not in Malaysia from December 18 to 21 but stopped short of saying where he went. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:
Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar has apologised for his absence amid the floods in the east coast state.

Speaking at a press conference after visiting flood victims at SK Binjai in Kemaman earlier today, Samsuri confirmed that he was overseas from Dec 18-21 but stopped short of stating where he had travelled to.

“I want to take this opportunity to apologise to all flood victims and the people of Terengganu for not being with them from Dec 18-21, which was the critical, or peak period, of the flood,” he said.

“I understand I cannot give excuses for this, and (even if I do), it will surely not be able to correct the situation or my absence.

“I also understand that whatever explanation I give will not mean anything.”

He said that while he was monitoring the floods when it first started and had visited flood victims on Dec 9 and 10, he decided to continue his trip overseas when he saw “signs that the floods were receding”.

“However, the flood’s peak period was when I was overseas from Dec 18-21,” he added.

State executive councillor Hanafiah Mat was previously reported to have said that Samsuri was in New Zealand and was scheduled to return today.

The massive floods that hit the east coast have claimed five lives so far, with a three-year-old child in Terengganu being the first casualty.

The number of flood evacuees in Terengganu dropped to 25,895 this morning compared with 27,396 last night.

In a Bernama report, Terengganu’s state disaster management committee said that the evacuees were given shelter at 181 temporary relief centres across all eight districts in the state.

Kemaman had the most number of evacuees at 5,439, followed by Dungun (5,201), Besut (4,309), Hulu Terengganu (3,567), Kuala Nerus (3,561), Kuala Terengganu (2,503), Setiu (1,118) and Marang (197).

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