A TOTAL of 69,235 security and rescue officers are ready to be deployed to handle possible flood disasters in the country, caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

He said 21,018 are from the police force, 18,511 from the armed forces, 14,829 from the Fire and Rescue Department, 10,510 from the Civil Defence Force and 4,367 from the People’s Volunteer Corps.

“This number will be increased if it is not enough.

“Police and other agencies under the Home Ministry are ready (to be mobilised) for floods,” he said.

He said this at a press conference after attending a briefing on the 15th general election and northeast monsoon at Bukit Aman today.

On logistic preparations, he said 1,816 police boats, 1,810 four-wheel-drive vehicles, 1,596 lorries and 19 air assets would be used for flood relief operations.

“The monsoon (floods) might happen in Pahang or Kelantan and Terengganu, and although sometimes west coast states like Selangor are also hit, it does not occur simultaneously nationwide. We hope it won’t be severe.

“If flooding occurs in certain areas and states, officers to be deployed this time will be sufficient to safeguard the interests of the people, especially those affected by floods,” he added.

He said the number of officers would be increased according to the situation if floods strike on an unusually massive scale throughout the country.

Also present at the event were Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and his deputy Razarudin Husain.

Asked whether leave for policemen would be frozen during the year-end monsoon season, he said this matter would be coordinated by Zuki and announced later.

“The chief secretary will look into this but normally senior government officers are not allowed to take leave in December and have to be on standby for floods. Leave need not be frozen for the general election because it is only one day, a Saturday (polling day).

“Many accused the government of trying to pull a prank by making people vote on a working day but they are wrong. We have fix polling on a Saturday. People are given complete freedom to vote as this right is guaranteed by the constitution,” he said.

Meanwhile, on preparations to set up evacuation centres, Ismail said the government had identified 2,010 of the 6,010 centres nationwide, which could also be used as voting centres.

He said these shelters would be segregated into evacuation and voting centres if flooding occurs on polling day on November 19.

“For example, a school with three blocks can double up as a polling centre and a relief shelter. Schools normally have three blocks, where two blocks can serve as a shelter and one as a voting centre.

“We will make preparations according to the situation and this does not mean the 2,010 dual-function centres will have to handle floods. Flood victims can be moved to other places where available, including community halls, surau and mosques,” he said.

Ismail said district officers are empowered to identify places to be used as flood relief centres and alternative plans could be implemented if necessary. – Bernama, October 25, 2022.