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KUALA TERENGGANU – The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) have been ordered to be fully prepared for a possible subsequent wave of floods, especially in flood-hit states.
Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that despite the calm, as some of the affected states are recovering from the floods, MAF’s commitment remained.
“So far, cooperation between MAF and the Defence Ministry, other departments and agencies, as well as the state governments has been commendable.
“Although the floods have receded, MAF’s commitment is to continue working closely with each agency. Our focus during the post-flood period is on cleaning work and helping restore damaged roads, houses, and bridges.”
He said this at the Op Murni news conference held at the 18th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment, Seri Pantai Camp in Seberang Takir here today.
Hishammuddin earlier attended a briefing on Op Murni and with the National Security Council in Terengganu, with Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar also present.
Hishammuddin said besides the evacuation of flood victims and post-flood rehabilitation work, MAF was also helping the Health Ministry conduct Covid-19 screening to curb infections following the emergence of the new Omicron variant.
He said this was vital to prevent the spread of Covid-19, particularly the new variant from becoming uncontrollable during this time of disastrous weather.
Meanwhile, the coordination of MAF’s manpower and assets’ movement with state and district Disaster Operations Control Centres in the four states he had visited, namely Kelantan, Johor, Pahang, and Terengganu, had been very good and effective, he added.
Hishammuddin also commended the good leadership and coordination between the state and district levels in managing the floods.
“In Selangor, I will go down and discuss with the state’s leaders…what they have gone through is extraordinary, as the situation in the cities is different and the floodwaters are rising in other places.
“We will study and learn from the experience…like in Terengganu, which has been experiencing floods for years. The important thing is not to find fault, but to reach out to the people and assist and protect them,” he said. – Bernama, January 6, 2022