KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Police Malaysia (RPM) will be encountering constraints in the flood management operations if the strength of RPM is structured for the 15th General Election (GE15) in line with the Election Commission (EC) Act.
Minister of Home Affairs (MOHA) Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said, based on the record almost 75,000 police personnel were on duty in the 14th GE. However for the 15th GE, with the increase in the number of automatic voters aged 18 years, RPM had estimated that more than 94,000 from 120,000 of the whole strength of RPM’s personnel will be involved.
“I would like to remind all Malaysians that are affected by the floods to always be in the preparedness condition, always be cautious and act wisely to avoid unwanted things to happen.
“I would also like to remind the people to abide to the directives of the authorities for the smooth flow of the aids operation and rescuing the victims of the floods,” Hamzah said in a statement after attending a Briefing on the Safety and Preparation to Encounter the Northeast Monsoon Floods presented by the Director of Home Security and Public Order (KDNKA) and RPM, Chief Police, Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali.
Hamzah said, MOHA is always committed in its monitoring and giving aids to any party that requires emergency aids during the floods. Members of the public could get information on the flood situation by contacting the Malaysian Control Centre (MCC) RPM at 03-2266 3333/ 03-2266 3444/ 03-2266 3451 or MERS 999.
The Minister added, based on the briefing, MOHA via the Integrated Enforcement Coordination Committee was satisfied with the preparedness of the strategic assets and RPM personnel that could be moved especially to face the big flood disaster that could happen any time from now.
“RPM will be helped by the departments and agencies under MOHA such as the Malaysian Volunteers Department (RELA) and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM).
“For the job aspects of the personnel and assets’ management, 21,018 police personnel will be involved, 367 boats, 845 four-wheel drive cars,454 lorries and 11 air assets are ready to be directed following the needs and the current development.
Besides that all district police heads are directed to make early preparations to lead the flood management operation centres in line with the directive of the National Security Council, National Disaster Management Policy (MKN 20).
Meanwhile, 4,367 officers and RELA personnel together with the assets namely 41 three tonne lorry and 36 four wheel drive cars are ready to be moved to the potential locations hit by the floods.
“The APMM will be giving aids to the islands especially delivering food supplies and basic needs and also the transfer of flood victims using air planes. The reports from RPM on several areas such as Tanjung Karang, Selangor; Baling, Kedah; Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan and several areas in Sabah and Sarawak had been hit by the floods,” Hamzah said.
Hamzah added, following the floods, the Flood Shifting Centres have been activated in those areas and the aid missions have also been activated for the flood victims involved. – Malaysia World News
