KUALA LUMPUR: The army is ready to increase the deployment of officers and personnel should the ongoing floods in several states worsen.
Army Chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan said the army had allocated 192 officers and 3,552 personnel, under "Op Murni", in anticipation of severe floods expected to impact the country.
These personnel, he said, were equipped with ground mobility assets such as three-tonne and seven-tonne trucks, combat boats and other rescue equipment.
"The initial estimate of 4,000 personnel is based on current conditions. However, we will continuously assess the situation.
Should the severity of the disaster increase, the army is ready to mobilise more personnel and equipment to support other authorities in assisting affected victims.
"The army operates under the principle of being first on-site. Even before the monsoon season, we had issued initial directives to all formations, preparing personnel and equipment while identifying potential hotspots expected to experience severe flooding.
"To date, we have deployed 31 officers and 350 personnel, along with 17 one-tonne trucks, 16 three-tonne trucks, and 15 boats to states like Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, which have been heavily affected.
"Our personnel are assisting other authorities in rescuing and relocating victims to safe areas," he told a press conference after the rank conferment ceremony of a heroic soldier who saved four teenagers from drowning in Puncak Alam here.
Hafizuddeain said flood rescue operations were joint efforts involving multiple agencies, and the army was prepared to assist the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) as the lead agency for flood management.
When asked if the army would be ready to open up its camps as temporary relief centres, he said the army would review the matter and consider using nearby camps to assist.
"Regarding flood relief centres, as of now, they fall under Nadma and the Social Welfare Department.
I believe the designated temporary relief centres are already operational. However, if needed, the army will review and consider using nearby camps to assist.
"Previously, during the major floods of 2014, no army camps were used as temporary shelters, but we remain open to such measures if required," he said.
Earlier, the Social Welfare Department's InfoBencana portal reported a sharp increase in the number of flood victims across several states, with Kelantan recording the highest figure.
A total of 59,232 people have been relocated to 221 temporary relief centres as of this morning, compared with 50,947 people in 207 relief centres last night.