4,795 flood-prone spots identified

Floods wreak havoc in Kedah: Continuous rain caused some low-lying areas along Changlun’s Laka river to be flooded, including Kampung Nangmah, Kampung Paya Nong Mi and Taman Sayang, where a total of 36 families were affected. — Photos sourced from social media/Bernama

JBPM: Northeast monsoon transition season sees heavy rains nationwide

KUALA NERUS: A total of 4,795 flood-prone locations nationwide have been identified by the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).

The country is currently in the northeast monsoon transition season, with heavy rains and floods in several states, including the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, said its operations director Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman.

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“JBPM is ready with all personnel, assets and standard operating procedures (SOP) in place to face any potential disasters.

“We will collaborate with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) to monitor and assess the weather every three hours.

Flash floods hit Padang Terap.

“As for weather forecasts, rainfall and wind conditions, data will be gathered by the operations management centre at the headquarters as well as in each state to facilitate the necessary implementation or precautionary measures,” he told reporters after the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Talk (BiGiar) 2023 for the Eastern Zone held here yesterday,

Bernama reported.A total of 500 participants, including JBPM personnel, government agency employees and corporate sector staff from Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, took part in BiGiar, which aims to enhance the integrity level of the workforce.

Ahmad Izram added that 7,920 volunteer firefighters nationwide would support flood relief efforts in addition to the 14,000 permanent JBPM officers and personnel.

Students of SK Dato’ Wan Kemara in Changlun walking out of their flooded school.

In another development, he said that 41 JBPM officers faced disciplinary actions for various misconduct cases including drug abuse, absenteeism, engaging in illicit relationships, close proximity (khalwat), sexual crimes, corruption and abuse of power from January until yesterday.

“The actions taken involve penalties such as dismissal, fines, salary suspension, salary reduction and revocation of emolument rights,” he said.

JBPM also received 50 complaints from January until Monday involving its personnel, with the majority of them related to abuse of power, Ahmad Izram added.