The Fire and Rescue Department is ready for the Northeast Monsoon with the establishment of the Rapid Action Team, which will be deployed in specific zones to prepare for potential major flood disasters across the country. According to its director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Wahab Mat Yasin, the teams will be equipped with specialized assets and will be mobilized immediately if their services are required at the scene of the incident. For example, the East Coast Zone team is stationed at the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Academy in Wakaf Tapai, Terengganu, while the Southern Zone team is based at the Kluang Fire and Rescue station (BBP) in Johor. The Northern Zone team is stationed at JBPM Air Base in Bertam, Penang, and in the Borneo Zone, they will be located in Miri, Sarawak. Among other things, this team will help evacuate flood victims.
In terms of air assets, the Fire and Rescue Department has nine aircraft of various types, which will be used to evacuate flood victims as well as to deliver food supplies to required locations, especially in rural areas. The department also collaborates with the Health Ministry and is ready to fly doctors and nurses to the necessary locations, in addition to providing emergency transportation to hospitals. Abdul Wahab also advised the community, especially the elderly, those who are not in good health, pregnant women, and children, to evacuate as soon as possible if there are signs of imminent flooding in their residential areas. There are 5,648 flood hotspots identified nationwide, with 259 hotspots in Kedah alone. The department is prepared in case of unusual rainfall in addition to patrolling the areas.
