JOHOR BARU: The state Civil Defence Force (APM) has placed its personnel on 24 hours standby as part of its preparation to face possible floods in the coming monsoon season.
Its director Colonel Mat Zin Bujang said APM is always vigilant and ready to take action should there be any cases of flood in the state.
"Our personnel will be on duty 24 hours a day in three shifts and they will monitor our 999 emergency number. They are our eyes and ears.
"We have also placed 60 personnel at each of our eight district offices to become the first responders in any case of flood. We want to make sure that we will be on site within the first hour of receiving an emergency call," said Mat Zin.
He said APM would focus on four districts, namely Segamat, Tangkak, Muar and Baru Pahat.
"These districts are usually the first to be hit by floods so we are paying extra attention to them," said Mat Zin when contacted yesterday.
On Saturday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Malaysia is expected to be hit by major floods this month following the change in the monsoon phases.
He said the increasing rainfall is an early warning that this phenomenon would be happening and it is expected to affect the whole region, Including Indonesia and the Philippnes.
