ATM mobilises personnel, assets to flood affected states - Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 --The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) has begun mobilising 4,983 of its officers and personnel,  along with 1,015 assets, for “Op Murni” to assist flood victims in the six affected states in the country.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also Defence Minister, said the six states are Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Selangor, Kelantan and Perak, where a total of  22,699 people have been evacuated to 282 evacuation centres.

He said the mobilisation of the ATM officers and personnel was to assist in the evacuation of flood victims, apart from installing the bailey bridge to connect villages where the roads were cut off due to the floods with the nearest town.

The ATM assets that were mobilised included 800 heavy-duty trucks, 197  boats, 10 bailey bridges, six helicopters and two transport aircraft, he told a press conference on the ATM’s Op Murni at Wisma Pertahanan here.

For Pahang and Johor, the two worst affected states, he said, it involved the mobilisation of 24 officers and 546 members of other ranks.

Meanwhile, when asked on the standard operating procedure (SOP) at flood evacuation centres, Ismail Sabri said it had been set by the National Security Council (MKN) and further details on the matter would be announced later today.

"We are 'alert' to the current COVID-19 situation,  so the people do not have to worry because there is also a SOP on the evacuation of ailing senior citizens during the floods,” he added.

 Also present at the press conference were ATM Commander Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang, Army Commander Gen Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain, Air Force Commander Gen Tan Sri Ackbal Abdul Samad and Navy Commander Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany.

-- BERNAMA