KUALA LUMPUR: The Fire and Rescue Department has mobilised its assets and community partners nationwide as the Northeast Monsoon season approaches.
The department has placed 150 small boats at various flood hotspots with 29 Rapid Response Teams at the ready to strengthen early flood response.
Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said the boats had been distributed to key flood-prone districts, including Kuala Lipis, Kuala Langat, Dengkil, and Kuala Selangor, where local communities were being trained to act as early responders before official rescue teams arrive.
“Our experience shows that in the first hours of flooding, the local community often plays a crucial role in moving victims to safety,” he told reporters after attending an engagement session at the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) base here today. “They know the terrain, the routes, and who should be prioritised for evacuation.”
He said the smaller, lighter boats were procured after consultations between the department and the Housing and Local Government Ministry, following feedback from ground operations during previous floods.
“These boats are more practical for shallow or narrow areas where our standard rescue vessels can’t operate efficiently,” he said.
Nor Hisham said community teams, including Bomba Komuniti and Bomba Sukarela, were being trained not only to handle the boats but also to follow strict safety protocols.
“We noticed that many villagers own boats but don’t wear life jackets. This is dangerous so part of our training is focused on safe navigation, communication, and reporting procedures,” he said.
He added that communities were also taught to identify vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and those cut off from communication networks, so that rescue priorities can be better coordinated.
The department has also established Forward Operating Bases (FOB) to pre-position assets in high-risk zones for faster deployment.
“Instead of waiting for assets to move from far away, we’ve stationed boats and equipment in advance at our Forward Operating Bases,” he said. “This allows immediate mobilisation once forecasts indicate rising flood risk.”
Nor Hisham said they have implemented 29 dedicated Rapid Response Teams, detached from normal fire-response duties to ensure they can focus exclusively on flood operations.
“Previously, the same station handled both fires and flood rescues, which divided attention. Now these Rapid Response Teams are on standby solely for flood missions, whether within districts or across states when necessary,” he said, citing recent deployments to Kamunting and Rantau Panjang as examples of the system’s effectiveness.
Nor Hisham said empowering local communities was essential to reduce the burden on official rescue teams, allowing Bomba to concentrate resources on critical cases such as medical evacuations and life-threatening rescues. “When local teams can move early and safely, it eases pressure on our responders and ensures faster, more coordinated action overall,” he said.
He added that the department remains in full operational readiness as the monsoon draws near, working closely with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and other response agencies under the National Disaster Response Mechanism.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
