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THE Communications Ministry is maintaining a state of high alert as authorities prepare for the possibility of major floods in the coming months, with a focus on keeping communication services operational and swiftly restoring network connectivity in affected areas.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the ministry’s priority is to support those impacted while ensuring communication infrastructure remains resilient.
“During the major floods earlier this year, many communication towers were badly affected, with bridges washed away and even underground cables damaged. That is why I have instructed teams to remain on high alert and be fully prepared,” he said in an interview with Bernama.
Fahmi highlighted that lessons from the earlier floods in Kelantan had strengthened planning this year, particularly through closer collaboration with telecommunications companies and providers of tower infrastructure.
Close coordination with telcos allows for the rapid restoration of affected towers once electricity and fibre connections are reinstated.
“Alhamdulillah, our preparedness is stronger this year, especially in coordinating with telcos to ensure flood-affected towers can be restored swiftly, subject to the availability of electricity and fibre connections.
Secondly, temporary relief centres will be equipped with WiFi and, if necessary, Starlink. This time, team deployment is much faster, and telcos are playing a crucial role in resolving these issues,” he said.
The ministry has also implemented “site hardening” measures at communication towers to prevent flood damage.
Fahmi cited a recent visit to a tower in Moyog, Sabah, where rising waters during recent floods had submerged infrastructure and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) distribution boards.
“These boards have now been raised efficiently and swiftly, using simple technology while keeping costs under control. We are confident such issues will not happen again,” he said.
Beyond infrastructure, the ministry is ready to provide welfare support for those affected, including through the MADANI Ehsan Squad and a disaster fund managed by the ministry.
On media personnel affected by disasters, Fahmi noted that the Tabung Kasih @HAWANA fund has sufficient resources to assist journalists and their families.
The ministry has also received donations of relief items, with plans to distribute them in the first quarter of next year. Fahmi said a relief delivery tour is expected to begin as early as January, while the full count of those affected by recent floods is still being finalised.
