TUMPAT: All district police chiefs must cooperate with locals who own private boats to assist in flood rescue operations.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said he believed the cooperation from the locals would help police in handling operations to move victims out from their flooded homes.
He added that the directive would be effective this year not only in Kelantan, but also in other states which are hit by annual floods.
"Beginning this year, I have directed all the district police chiefs to work with locals who own boats in the rescue operations.
"This is necessary as they (boat owners) are more knowledgeable about the affected areas.
"We need people with local knowledge because when a flood occurs, the rescue teams like police and Fire and Rescue Department will not know much about the local terrain.
"So, with the presence of these boat owners, it will further facilitate our operations in rescue and evacuation of flood victims," he told reporters after a working visit to observe Op Benteng at the Malaysian-Thai border in Pengkalan Kubor here today.
Mazlan said he has also instructed the district police chiefs to get villagers with boats to register with the police.
On flood preparations, he said Kelantan police were ready to face any eventuality and so far, there was sufficient manpower and assets to deal with the situation.
"Kelantan will deploy 654 teams and there are 202 forward bases that will be set up in the state.
"A total of 57 boats including four from the marine police and three from the Eighth Battalion will be used in the operations.
"We will use jetskis and other assets like Sealegs (amphibious boats) if needed," he added.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a yellow alert weather warning with forecast of heavy rain in Kelantan and Terengganu from today until tomorrow.
MetMalaysia, in a statement, said the areas expected to be affected in Kelantan were Tumpat, Kota Baru, Bachok and Pasir Puteh.
In Terengganu, the affected areas are Besut, Setiu, Kuala Nerus and Kuala Terengganu.
It said the wind from the northeast was expected to bring heavy rain that could cause floods in the low-lying areas.