KOTA BARU – As many as 70,000 officers and personnel from various agencies are ready to be deployed to deal with the possible flood disaster due to the northeast monsoon, said caretaker home minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
He said the number includes the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) with 21,018 personnel; the Malaysian Armed Forces (18,500); the Fire and Rescue Department (15,000), the Civil Defence Force (10,500), and the People’s Volunteer Corps (4,400).
“We have asked for assistance from several agencies because we are aware many PDRM personnel will be involved in the 15th general election (GE15).
“We have also asked for assets from the agencies involved, such as lorries, boats, and air assets,” he said after attending the GE15 briefing and preparation for the monsoon season at the Kelantan police contingent headquarters here today.
Also present were Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Home Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.
Commenting further, Hamzah said his ministry had identified as many as 5,500 hotspots at risk of flooding nationwide, including 186 areas at risk of water surges.
“We have studied several strategies to ensure that the people can put their trust in PDRM because we are prepared to face the possibility of a disaster due to heavy rainfall,” he said. – Bernama, October 28, 2022
