PETALING JAYA: State governments and emergency response agencies nationwide have stepped up flood preparations, with thousands of personnel and rescue assets placed on standby.
Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the state government is prepared to increase disaster-related allocations if needed.
He said more than RM3mil had been allocated for preparations for the northeast monsoon, including the early delivery of aid supplies to 167 forward bases statewide.
Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said 25,592 personnel as well as 1,248 assets are on standby nationwide.
He added that 3,682 flood hotspot locations have been identified.
The Kedah Civil Defence Force (APM) is also on high alert with 90 flood-prone areas having been identified statewide.
Kedah APM director Lt Col (PA) Mohd Bukhori Mat Sidik said: “We are prepared to deploy 556 land and water assets, along with 927 APM personnel, should severe flooding occur.”
“The Kedah State Disaster Management Committee agencies have also put 6,041 land and water assets and 3,658 personnel on standby,” he said, Bernama reported.
In Selangor, state infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim said 70% of the 255 quick-win flood mitigation projects funded by the Selangor government have been completed to date.
He said the projects, implemented mainly in flash flood hotspots, involve an allocation of nearly RM70mil.
“The remaining 30% are under construction and expected to be completed by the end of this year,” Izham said during a working visit to inspect a flood mitigation project at Taman Sri Kerayong in Kapar yesterday.
