PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed deep concern over the worsening floods at home, despite being abroad on an official visit to Africa.
In a statement shared on Facebook, he reported that more than 15,000 people in seven states have been displaced, adding that he continues to receive regular updates on the situation and on ongoing relief efforts.
He said the National Disaster Management Agency has fully mobilised its resources, together with assets from relevant departments, to reach stranded residents and ensure immediate assistance is provided.
“Malaysia’s Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART) has also been deployed to Kelantan, which is the worst affected, and stands ready to move to other states to expedite rescue operations and emergency assistance on the ground,” he said.
The government has also deployed the Skuad Ihsan Madani to all affected districts to assist with welfare management at nearly 100 temporary relief centres opened across the seven states.
Anwar urged residents in high-risk areas to remain vigilant and follow the instructions of the authorities, especially when ordered to evacuate.
“In this difficult and challenging period, I pray that all flood victims are granted strength and resilience, and are protected from any harm. May we all be eased in facing this test,” he added.
Separately, Anwar wrapped up his African tour in Nairobi with a strong affirmation of the role played by Malaysians abroad in projecting the nation’s identity and values.
His departure from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 7pm on 25 November came after a series of engagements designed to revitalise Malaysia’s presence on the continent. He is scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
The tour began on 18 November in Ethiopia—the first visit by a Malaysian prime minister to the Horn of Africa—and served also as a reciprocal gesture following Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali’s visit to Malaysia last year.
Anwar then continued to Johannesburg from 20 to 23 November to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit before travelling to Nairobi for meetings from 23 to 24 November.
During the Kenya leg, Malaysia and Kenya agreed to elevate their 60-year friendship to a strategic partnership, committing to the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers, expanded bilateral trade and cooperation in digital technology and high-tech manufacturing.
Kenya’s key exports to Malaysia include tea, coffee, flowers, avocados, titanium, hides and beef, while Malaysia exports edible oils, chemical products, electronics, agricultural chemicals and rubber.
Anwar’s engagements also included an intimate meeting with the Malaysian community in Kenya, which he described as revealing the vibrancy and resilience of the diaspora.
Their accounts touched on differing work cultures, family life abroad and the challenges of cultural adjustment, all while preserving what he called the “warmth” of Malaysian manners and values.
“Some have long settled in Nairobi, some have only recently moved here, but all of them carry the face of Malaysia in every layer of their lives here,” he told the group.
Many of those present were alumni of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP). Anwar said the community’s enduring emotional bond with home left a strong impression.
“What truly resonated was their sense of belonging and their love for Malaysia. They may be living far away on the African continent, but their hearts and souls remain tied to the country,” he said.
He added that through “the way they work, build friendships and carry themselves”, Malaysians abroad promote the nation’s image with sincerity and integrity.
“I will return home with pride and confidence that relationships such as these—rooted in sincerity and honesty—will continue to connect Malaysia with the rest of the world,” he said.
The MTCP, launched in 1980 as part of Malaysia’s commitment to assist developing nations, offers short-term training, scholarships and capacity-building across public administration, education, technology, economics and social management.
More than 600 Kenyan officials have benefited from the programme.
Kenya continues to be Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade rising to RM5.7 billion in 2024—an increase of 1.2 per cent from RM5.51 billion in 2023. - November 25, 2025
