CDF's double whammy plan - monsoon floods and GE15

The Civil Defence Force (CDF or Angkatan Pertahanan Awam) is on a double footing to face flooding during the Northeast Monsoon and also the possibility of the 15th general election (GE15) this year.

CDF deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Norhafifi Ismail said assistance would be provided to ferry flood victims, especially the disabled (PwD) and elderly, to polling centres using CDF assets to ensure smooth polling for GE15.

"If GE15 takes place during the MTL, we at CDF are ready to help the Election Commission (EC) ensure a smooth voting process and this will not be the first time as we have done this before in GE14.

"We have put together a strategic plan on how to smoothen the execution of tasks in both of these situations," he said after officiating the Malacca 2022 CDF Town Hall Meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs complex in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, yesterday.

Norhafifi said a total of 10,510 CDF members and officers throughout the country would be mobilised for the implementation of both tasks with the logistics of 481 land vehicles such as four-wheel drives and lorries and 759 water vessels like boats.

In addition, CDF assets that would be mobilised according to the needs of flooded areas are 5,772 life jackets, collapsible tents (64,310 units) and generators (144 units).

Norhafifi said CDF members from states spared by floods would be moved to affected states so that effective assistance in relocating for the rescue of victims could be done speedily.

In the meantime, he said, residents who live in flood-prone areas are advised to be prepared to evacuate at short notice and not wait for instruction from the authorities.

"Residents are also advised to prepare 'ready to go' bags containing necessities, documents and food supplies in case they have to evacuate," he said.

Norhafifi said a total of 6,010 temporary relocation centres (TRCs) across the country had been gazetted under the Department of Social Welfare, of which 138 TRCs are in Malacca.

He said supervision, including the aspects of hygiene, has been laid for fast activation of TRCs.

He said CDF also aims to train at least 10 percent of the 32 million population in the country in the basics of disaster management, including aspects of rescue, medicine and fire-fighting through the Civil Defence Emergency Response Team.

- Bernama

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