KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — Malaysians took to social media today to criticise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for being absent from the country while Malaysia’s east coast states are experiencing severe floods.

The public began venting their displeasure following news reports that the prime minister was purportedly playing golf with US President Barack Obama somewhere in Hawaii.

Angry messages also flooded the prime minister’s Facebook page, with most calling for Najib to cancel his holiday and return home to oversee flood relief efforts after it was reported that over 100,000 people have been forced from their homes throughout Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and parts of Perak.

An announcement was posted on Najib’s Facebook page this evening to say that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been tasked to head the disaster relief committee and that Putrajaya will extend all possible aid to the flood victims.

The missive did not placate Malaysians, however, who continued to demand that Najib return home.

One Facebook user using the screen name Toro Toro wrote: “Orang lain turun padang. Najib turun padang gak, padang golf” (Other people are going down to ground. Najib also goes down to the ground, the golf ground).

Not all were critical of the prime minister’s trip abroad, however, with some defending Najib against the criticism.

One user by the name of Matahary Bersinar wrote: “Bila sush cari pm...bila senag..kutuk pm..apekah ini smua adil.?..sekurg2 nya dia da arahkn org untuk tolong mereka di pantai timur...jgn berfikiran negatif..itu akn mundurkn lagi rakyat malaysia..Allah sentiasa ada bersama org yg benar n biar Allah yg mmbls smua nya..” (When you’re in trouble you’ll look for the PM when you have it easy you criticise him. At least he is ordering people to help. Don’t think negatively. It would make us regress. Allah will always be with the righteous).

Such messages were few in comparison to the outrage on Facebook.

Earlier today the Kelantan PAS government beseeched Najib to call for an emergency parliamentary sitting to deal with rising flood waters that threatens to immobilise the northeast state.

According to Bernama, the floods have affected nine of the 10 districts in Kelantan: Gua Musang, Jeli, Kuala Krai, Machang, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Tanah Merah, Tumpat and Kota Baharu.

Bernama also reported 23 roads in eight districts closed to traffic, with 17 barred to all vehicles and six, to light vehicles.

The floods in Kelantan have claimed four lives since December 16, the news wire reported, while in Terengganu, one girl was reported to have drowned.