JBPM identifies, monitor flood hotspots in six states

SHAH ALAM – This year, the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) will focus on six states across Malaysia that are highly exposed to floods namely Selangor, Kedah, Sarawak, Kelantan and Pahang.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said his division would make the preparation on a big scale based on its logistics.

“We will conduct the programme as big as possible based on the logistics movement and we have also identified the hotspot areas during floods,” he said during the Malaysian Polytechnic Fire Brigade Commissioning Ceremony at Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Polytechnic, today.

He said at the previous launch of the firefighter’s day celebration, they gave essential equipment to the communities to be utilised during flood emergencies that could help the residents to evacuate.

“With the efforts, it can restore the confidence of the residents who live in the high-risk area as they are already aware of the nature and the characteristic of the floods,” he said.

He said his team's readiness had improved, even in uncertain weather conditions with the mobilisation of logistics and human resources at the focus areas.

“When we get a report from the public, we will send a team to see if the water level and rain are getting worse or not.

“When help is needed, we will join forces with other agencies,” he said.

This, he said, was a lesson learned from previous flood incidents.

“For example, if a flood occurs in Selangor, we will also bring the officers from other states who might not be familiar with the locality.

“This includes fences, electrical sub-stations that are submerged in water and the locals would know better,” he said.

In another development, he informed that more than 1,000 new firefighters would be deployed nationwide this year.

He said the new member would replace the vacancy at the fire station as there were members who have retired.

“We also just finished the commissioning course for new officers of over 280 which will be sent at the fire station with vacant spots to be filled,” he said.

He also added over 760 officers will be commissioned on August 8 after four months of training and will be filling in vacancies at fire stations nationwide

“These members will also be placed in six new stations with each station requiring 30 to 40 members,” he said.