Malaysia downplays claims floods caused by Singapore

The Straits Times, February 1, 2007



KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia on Thursday stepped back from remarks by a state official blaming Singapore for recent flooding in the country.

The chief minister of Johor state, which was hardest hit by the flooding, reportedly blamed Singapore for narrowing a river mouth which he said impeded drainage during the December and January floods.

But Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar downplayed those comments, saying there were 'all sorts of possibilities' that had led to the devastation.

'Before we give any view about what are the causes of the flood and all this sort of thing, we are going to undertake a technical study,' Mr Syed Hamid told reporters.

More than 100,000 people had to be evacuated in Johor when the flood waters came.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak also dismissed the remarks by Johor chief minister Abdul Ghani Othman.

'People are fond of making all kinds of accusations. This ought to be substantiated,' he was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times. -- AFP