His announcement comes on the back of the hundreds of angry responses from Malaysians over social media to photographs showing the prime minister golfing with US President Barack Obama somewhere in Hawaii.

Najib said, however, that during his time abroad, he had been in constant contact with the authorities back home.

“I am deeply concerned by the floods. I feel for the people who have lost their homes, and the families who have lost loved ones.

“While I have been away, I have been in constant contact with the National Security Council and the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee, who have assured me that they are doing everything they can to help those who have been affected. But I want to see the situation for myself and be with the people,” he said in a brief statement from his office.

According to the statement, the prime minister will touch down in Kelantan tomorrow where he is expected to chair a meeting and receive briefings from the NSC and the disaster relief committee, the state government and local emergency responders.

“The Prime Minister will also meet people affected by the flooding and discuss new measures to support those who have been displaced,” the statement said.

Malaysians have been attacking Najib on social media, criticising the leader for being absent from the country during its worst flood crisis in decades.

After the photograph of Najib teeing off with Obama surfaced, angry messages began to flood the prime minister’s Facebook page, with most calling for Najib to cancel his holiday and return home.

Shortly after, an announcement was posted on Najib’s Facebook page to say that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had been tasked to head the disaster relief committee and that Putrajaya would 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).

At press time, the number of total flood evacuees has gone up to 90,546 with the most evacuees in Terengganu 29,509, followed by Pahang 29,296 and Kelantan 25,146.

Perak also has 6,065 evacuees, Perlis 220, Johor 214 and Kedah 96 people.

Three deaths have been recorded in Kelantan during this round of floods while four deaths were recorded more than a week ago in Terengganu when the first wave of floods hit the country.