Kota Kinabalu: Amateur radio operators in Sabah have activated the 7.110 MHz frequency as an emergency channel following widespread floods that cut off power and phone services.
Kelab Radio Amatur Utara Selatan Sabah (KRAUSS) President Janson Juwily said the move was to help channel critical information from affected areas where roads were blocked by landslides and communications disrupted.
“KRAUSS is coordinating information received from operators and passing on important or emergency updates to the relevant agencies,” he said.
He said 10 emergency stations manned by KRAUSS members are operating round the clock in Tuaran, Beaufort, Penampang and Kota Kinabalu, besides mobile stations.
In Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian Amateur Radio Emergency Committee confirmed 7.110 MHz has been designated as the official channel for flood-related communications in Beaufort, Papar and Penampang.
The committee urged amateur radio users to vacate the frequency for emergency use only, prioritising urgent messages, relief coordination and vital updates.
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) also issued a global notice, with Region 3 Secretary-General Ken Yamamoto calling for the frequency to be reserved strictly for emergency, rescue and relief communications.
Meanwhile, reports from Penampang said transmission towers had collapsed, causing major power disruptions, water supply cuts and loss of phone services.
A resident, Dr Juliana Osong, described the floods in Penampang as worse than those in Papar, Bongawan and Beaufort, adding that landslides had buried homes.
“I am deeply saddened by the incident in Kampung Sarapung, Donggongon, and pray for the safety of the villagers,” she said.