Rescue efforts are underway in Malaysia, where more than 66,000 personnel from the police, army and fire department have been mobilised [Rozanna Latiff/Reuters]

Kuala Lumpur, December 20 (RHC)-- Tens of thousands of people have been displaced after torrential rains caused floods in Malaysia, the state news agency Bernama has reported.  Perak was the latest state to be hit by floods on Sunday, while the situation was worsening in six other states, causing at least 21,000 people to be evacuated to relief centres.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob late on Saturday told a media conference that the heavy rainfall that started Friday morning was equivalent to the total rainfall for a month in normal conditions.  The prime minister promised swift aid to flood victims as well as an initial allocation of 100 million ringgit ($23.7million) to repair damaged houses and infrastructure.

Rescue efforts were under way for those trapped in vehicles and outside of their homes, while reports from Saturday of those trapped at home have been resolved, he said.  More than 66,000 personnel from the police, army and fire department have been mobilized.

Dozens of bus routes in and around the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, have been cancelled and train services leading to the port city of Klang were suspended.

Operations at three water treatment plants in Selangor were also disrupted by the floods, with taps expected to run dry for tens of thousands in parts of the state and the capital.

Malaysia’s worst flooding in decades took place in 2014, forcing some 118,000 people to flee.