PETALING JAYA: With 3,682 flood-prone locations recorded nationwide last year, disaster response agencies are stepping up preparations ahead of the Northeast Monsoon, which is expected to begin today.
The Fire and Rescue Department will deploy 1,248 assets, supported by 29 rapid response teams and three regional forward bases, to strengthen its readiness.
Its director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said preparations included inspecting equipment and logistics, deploying personnel and enhancing rapid response capabilities to ensure rescue operations could be carried out effectively.
“All assets must be in optimal condition and ready to be mobilised at any time to deal with floods and related disaster.”
Nor Hisham said Pahang had the highest number of flood-prone areas, at 760, followed by Kelantan (618) and Sabah (517).
He said the department’s 25,592 personnel, comprising full-time, auxiliary and volunteer firefighters, are also tasked with monitoring weather conditions, identifying flood-prone locations and coordinating operations with other agencies at the national, state and district levels.
The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) has also fully mobilised its full personnel nationwide.
APM chief commissioner Mohammad Abiddin Abd Rahman said personnel had been stationed in vulnerable districts to monitor conditions and remain on standby for emergencies.
“APM is ready for rescue operations at any time,” he said, adding that additional heavy vehicles, including lorries, ambulances and four-wheel drives, were needed to support rescue efforts.
The force has 997 land-operation vehicles and 895 water-operation assets, along with 27 drones, 7,564 life jackets, 96,929 folding tents and 153 generators.
Its 12,927 personnel are distributed across five zones, with 4,149 in Sabah and Sarawak as well as 3,108 on the east coast, 2,210 in the Central zone, 1,757 in the northern region and 1,703 in the south.
The Northeast Monsoon, which usually lasts until March, brings the risk of prolonged heavy rain and flooding.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the current monsoon transition phase could bring thunderstorms, heavy rain, lightning and strong winds over short periods, especially in the afternoons and early evenings.
He added that transboundary haze from neighbouring countries was expected to gradually subside as wind patterns changed.
The National Disaster Management Agency said it would coordinate closely with MetMalaysia during the monsoon transition, with measures to be implemented nationwide.
