Floods: Armed Forces to focus on rendering aid in Pahang, Selangor and Kelantan

SHAH ALAM: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is now focusing on helping flood victims in Pahang, Selangor and Kelantan which are the most badly affected areas, says its chief Tan Sri Affendi Buang.

He said this followed the total number of flood victims in states which also showed an increase in locations affected by the disaster.

"In Pahang, there are 38,399 victims and the nine areas involving MAF deployment are Maran, Kuantan, Raub, Kuala Lipis, Jerantut, Temerloh, Pekan, Bentong and Bera.

"For the time being, the situation in Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan and Melaka are still under control," he told an Ops Banjir press conference in Taman Sri Muda here on Thursday (Dec 24).

Affendi, however, said MAF always has at least one company (five officers and 97 personnel) strength on standby in each state for deployment to flood-hit locations when the need arises.

He stressed that in facing this crisis, MAF puts the safety of victims as its main priority while coordinating relief efforts with other agencies.

"We cannot work alone or in a silo. Any effort would be more effective with the concept of the 'whole of government' approach to harness the abilities of each agency involved, and it is more effective that way,” he said.

He added that now is not the time for any apportionment of blame as it would only affect rescue and evacuation work.

"Where shortcomings in flood management (are concerned) it is the duty of each agency to seek solutions and improve operations in future,” he said. – Bernama