ZARINA ABDULLAH New Straits Times 18 Jan 17;
KUALA TERENGGANU: Following the ‘yellow stage’ warning for heavy rains issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), the state Fire and Rescue Department has frozen all leave for its staff.
Its director Azlimin Mat Noor said the notice for the department’s 1,000 staff state-wide takes effect today.
Azlimin said the Fire and Rescue Department is prepared for action again should flood return to the state again following the alert that issued by MetMalaysia on forecasted heavy rainfall between today and Saturday.
“Those who are on leave have been recalled. All our assets, including an amphibious vehicle, 40 lorries and 60 units of rescue boats are ready to be mobilised,” he said today. “We are now also on a standby mode.
We are the front liners in flood rescue operations together with the Civil Defence Department (APM) and other agencies,” he added.
Meanwhile, the state Civil Defence Department director Lt Colonel Che Adam A. Rahman said his men were ready for the third wave of heavy rain could potentially flood low-lying areas.
“We will also be monitoring the beach areas because the warning from MetMalaysia also included on the occurrence of high waves,” he added.
On Monday, the MetMalaysia issued the yellow stage warning for several states including Terengganu.
It also said strong northeast winds with between 40 and 50 kilometre per hour (kmph) and waves as high as 3.5 metres are to be expected in waters off Kelantan and Terengganu until next Monday.
As such, the weather condition could prove to be dangerous for water activities and small boats.
