MELAKA - The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has taken several key approaches to face the Northeast Monsoon season, which is expected to begin in November, including releasing a special allocation of about RM3 million to purchase various assets to strengthen its logistical preparations.
Its director (Operations and Rescue Division) Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said the assets purchased included 60 special boats for use during floods in urban areas and 100 units of lighting equipment for use in search and rescue missions at night or in areas hit by a power outage.
"JBPM has identified a total of 4,872 locations nationwide that are at risk of flooding ahead of the monsoon season and appropriate approaches and preparations have been taken to deal with the situation.
"We have also filled the vacancies for personnel and officers nationwide. So far, our personnel strength is at 96 per cent, with a total of 12,718 people,” he told reporters after the closing of the Melaka state-level disaster management course at Pantai Puteri here today.
The closing ceremony was officiated by Yang Dipertua Negeri Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Rustam and also attended by JPBM Air Division director Nazili Mahmood and JBPM Melaka director Abu Bakar Katain.
Elaborating, Nor Hisham said that besides the six flood-prone states, namely Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak, the risk of cities being flooded had also become a priority following a change in the disaster trend, with urban areas also affected like the major floods in Selangor last year.
He said a standard operating procedure (SOP) had been formulated to tackle floods in urban areas, including the swift setting up frontline fire and rescue control centres when disaster strikes so that victims or residents can make early reports.
He said regional forward bases (RFB) had been set up involving the northern zone, namely the Fire and Rescue Station (BPP) Perda in Penang; BPP Ayer Hitam (southern zone); and Malaysian Fire and Rescue Academy in Wakaf Tapai, Terengganu (eastern region zone).
"Logistics and personnel placed at the northern zone RFB will monitor areas in Kedah, Perlis, Perak and Penang; the southern zone will cover areas in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor; while the eastern region zone involves Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.
"If flood occurs and the situation is bad, the JBPM operations in the affected state will switch to 24 hours and all leave will be frozen,” he said. Meanwhile, he said a total of 186 locations nationwide had been identified as being at risk of the water surge phenomenon and the state identified with the most number is Sabah, with 52 locations, while Melaka has only one location.
He urged the public to always be sensitive to their surroundings and check weather forecasts issued by the authorities to avoid being caught in areas where the water surge phenomenon occurs. - BERNAMA