KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 18,616 Armed Forces officers and personnel have been put on standby through Ops Murni to help tackle floods, if necessary.
The Malaysian Army said in a statement that the operation would be implemented when the disaster Management Committee at federal, state and district levels need the Armed Forces to assist relevant government agencies in providing aid to residents affected by floods, including repairing public services.
According to the Malaysian Army, the scope of the Armed Forces assignments during disasters includes assisting members at all levels and providing limited transportation assistance for movement on land, air and sea.
"The Malaysian Army provides logistics equipment assistance such as machinery for relief work during disasters, specialist service assistance such as experts in explosives and engineering, field medical liaison, disaster evacuation and diver assistance for search and rescue operations.
"Among the assets involved include 307 boats, life jackets (6,238), one-tonne vehicles (372), generator set support equipment (136), aircraft (26) and four paramedics per team that will be established in each Malaysian Army Brigade formation," it added.
In addition, Level Two Armed Forces Field Hospital, which has facilities for operating theatres, anaesthesia and ICU with 112 staff comprising six medical specialists, six medical officers and 100 clinical and non-clinical support staff will be mobilised if the Health Ministry (MoH) Hospital loses contact.
"The Malaysian Army will also assist in post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes if needed," it added.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces has also appointed Army Chief, General Datuk Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan, as the leader of Ops Murni involving all three branches of the Armed Forces and has been given the authority of Operational Command over the mobilisation of members.
According to the statement, the Armed Forces's preparedness is a collaboration between the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), public and local authorities.
"The Armed Forces is always committed and ready to help government agencies and the people when they face difficulties in the face of disasters and, no matter what the situation is, to ensure the well-being of the people and the country," it added. – Bernama