Almost 5,000 JBPM personnel mobilised to help flood victims in six states

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 4,819 members of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) including Auxiliary Fire Brigade have been mobilised to assist in the rescue work and relocate the victims to Temporary Relief Centres (PPS) in six states affected by floods following continuous heavy rains since Friday.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said in a statement on Facebook that JBPM had also mobilised 125 transport vehicles and 214 boats to flooded areas in six states, namely Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka as of 12 midnight (Dec 18).

"The flood situation in six states, especially Selangor, is quite bad. For the past two nights, members and assets of the Fire and Rescue Department have been mobilised and are always ready to help all the victims involved.

"For operations in Selangor, a total of 1,577 members have been deployed. I have also sent personnel assistance from Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya," he said.

Reezal also said that he had contacted Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari for coordination and increasing the strength of JBPM members if the situation worsened.

In the meantime, he requested that all those involved in the flood incidents to call the emergency line immediately and comply with the instructions of the authorities at all time.

-- BERNAMA