Op Murni is mobilised to carry out rescue and evacuation assistance tasks, food preparation and distribution

by AZREEN HANI / Pic by BERNAMA

THE Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) have deployed a total of 63 officers and 856 members of other ranks to rescue flood victims nationwide under Ops Murni.

ATM chief Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang said the armed forces are currently focusing on several affected areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Terengganu and Kelantan.

“Op Murni is mobilised to carry out rescue and evacuation assistance tasks, food preparation and distribution, liaison officers at the Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB) and has mobilised assets such as trucks, four-wheel drive, combat boats and air assets from the Army,” Affendi said in a statement yesterday.

The military may deploy the Royal Malaysian Air Force if required.

“The ATM always puts its personnel and assets on prime alert to be deployed to the affected locations, as well as assist the authorities and other security agencies coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma),” he added.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as saying that the government admitted there could be weakness in its flood management response in Selangor.

Assuring that the management will be improved from time to time, Ismail Sabri said the responsibility of managing flood disaster was not that of the federal government alone, as the state governments and relevant authorities at the districts also play an important role.

“I don’t deny (the weakness) and will improve in the future…The responsibility is not that of the federal government alone, but also the state governments and the frontliners are the districts.

“The Nadma only coordinates…if it is considered a weakness in coordination, I do not defend anyone in this situation, for me everyone must be held accountable,” he was quoted as saying in the report.

Separately, Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) said it is collaborating with the National Water Services Commission by providing a total of 32 mobile toilets to eight flood relief centres.

IWK is also contributing RM50,000 for the affected families at these relief centres.

According to the company, the massive floods have also caused damage to about 254 IWK wastewater treatment plants, with a total loss of around RM7 million.

Most of the plants involved are in Selangor and Pahang.

“The process of repairing the damage has begun at several plants, and is expected to resume operations in the near future once the equipment is replaced and the electricity supply is restored,” IWK said in a statement yesterday.

Meanwhile Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd MD Datuk Dr Ameer Ali Mydin (picture) said he forgave those who had committed theft at its premises during the recent floods.

“Honestly, I do not condone their act of stealing, but at a time of emergency, they would probably have had no choice and were forced to do so for their survival.

“Sincerely, I would like to make halal what they have done as they were merely trying to stay alive as aid had come in late,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The statement was issued in response to the break-in at Mydin Mart branch in Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam.

Ameer said he was deeply touched and sympathised with those affected by the floods, especially when the country is still struggling with the Covid-19 outbreak.