KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — The New Year’s Eve celebration scheduled to be held in Putrajaya has been cancelled in a show of sympathy for the tens of thousands of Malaysians displaced by severe floods, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said today.

The Federal Territories minister said he is also in talks with the event sponsors, Ambank Group, to divert the funds earmarked for the celebrations towards aid for the flood victims.

“I would like to state that the New Year’s Eve celebration is not being paid for by Putrajaya Corp or the Federal Territories Ministry,” he was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama today.

“I am discussing with Ambank, its chairman Tan Sri Azmah Hashim who is performing his pilgrimage, about the suggestion for the RM3 million (set aside for the event) to be channelled to flood relief.”

The event previously drew criticism from the public who deemed it insensitive given the worsening floods in the east coast of the peninsula.

Bernama previously reported that over 100,000 people have been forced from their homes throughout Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and parts of Perak.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been put in charge of a disaster relief committee, while Putrajaya has pledged to extend all possible aid to the flood victims.