KUALA SELANGOR: The Fire and Rescue Department has made adjustments involving its manpower strength and has deployed its assets in anticipation of the monsoon season and possible floods, says Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.
The Housing and Local Government Minister said staff leave has been frozen and those on duty in identified areas have been put on 24-hour standby instead of 12 hours.
"We have also deployed our assets so that in case of floods, there will be sufficient equipment to rescue and assist victims," he said on Wednesday (Nov 9).
Reezal added that 29,000 firemen and volunteers are on standby for the monsoon season.
Reezal, who is the incumbent MP for Kepala Batas, was speaking to reporters after meeting Barisan Nasional's election machinery here.
The Barisan candidate for Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat is Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
Reezal said as preparation, three regional forward bases have been created to ensure rapid deployment of manpower and assets.
To a question, he said the number of assets for the Fire and Rescue Department had increased after the Finance Ministry approved emergency procurement to purchase more equipment.
"This has helped the department to better prepare for the monsoon season and other emergencies," he added.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued an early monsoon warning throughout Malaysia that is expected to cause recurring periods of heavy rain and turbulent winds starting next Monday (Nov 7) until March next year.
MetMalaysia said that the annual north-east monsoon would trigger rainfall sooner than was previously predicted and would cause at least four to six periods of constant heavy rain during the five-month-long monsoon season.
It said that low-lying areas, areas close to rivers and high-tide-prone seaside areas in particular, would be at the highest risk of severe floods.
A similar warning was also issued for seaside communities along the east coast and facing the South China Sea with MetMalaysia stressing that constant turbulent seas and fierce winds are expected throughout the monsoon season.
