Lest We Forget

MMEA To Be Gifted Two Patrol Boats By Australia

As this Bernama article has stated, the Australian Government has seen fit to gift to the MMEA by middle next year two ex-Customs Bay class patrol boats for the reported purpose of "the boats would be used by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to counter people-smuggling operations throughout the region as both Australia and Malaysia had cooperated closely to combat this illegal activity", which it has been used for in Australian service. A fact file of the vessels in Australian Customs and Border Protection Service is available here.

In the Sydney Morning Herald,  it was stated that "Of the newly-announced Malaysia decision, Mr Morrison said Australia would not only provide boats but also "vessel training" for Malaysia's Maritime Enforcement Agency." In UK's The Guardian it is stated that this means "“Australia will provide vessel training, which will involve Australian Customs and Border Protection Service officers assisting in the development of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency’s existing maritime capability."

There is a saying that to not look a gift horse in the mouth, but it does worry me that these end 1999 built boats are reported to be retired quite early, initially supposed to be as early as 2010 due to the high maintenance cost and low availability as stated in this article. Looking at our track record with second hand vessels, I hope we will take care in its operations in order to avoid service difficulties especially with regards to maintenance.

In conclusion let me leave you with what may a less well known fact about this class. The Bay class design was used as the basis for the 14 larger Armidale class patrol boats in use with the Royal Australian Navy, which was borne out of a joint program between the RMN and RN that the RMN later left. If the RMN had not pulled out of the process, we could have actually seen more of similarly designed ships in our fleet.

Understand The Facts

Whether you support or not our official statements on China's supposed incursion to James' Shoal or Beting Serupai, please do understand that the underlying or core issue is this that is clearly stated by the Senior Analyst from ISIS. " “Putting aside the issue of where those ships actually were, the fact remains that the PLAN – through state media reports – has unequivocally underscored China’s claims over the waters around James Sh­o­al,” argued senior analyst Shahriman Lockman at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies. “It was a display of China’s intent and resolve to assert its claims in the South China Sea, which extends into Malaysia’s EEZ.”

Thus I do not care if shots were fired or they were thousands of miles away, the PRC has scored a moral victory in making their claim and we will look like wimps if an appropriate response more than denial or amaran is made. I personally would love to see a submarine traing exercise is made in the EEZ around the waters as a response.

Anyway here is the full article for your reading pleasure.

Published: Friday January 31, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Friday January 31, 2014 MYT 10:23:51 AM

China claims its vessels patrolled James Shoal

by santha oorjitham

KUALA LUMPUR: Whether the recent Chinese maritime exercise was within Malaysian waters or not, the fact remains that China Military Online is claiming that the ships were at Zengmu Reef – the Chinese term for James Shoal or Beting Serupai.

The Jan 27 report, carried on the Ministry of National Defence website said three warships from the South China Sea Fleet of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLAN) arrived there on Jan 26 and held a “sovereignty oath-taking ceremony”.

“Zengmu Reef is the southernmost part of China’s territory, and it is also a main maritime artery and strategic point,” the report concluded. 

Located 80km from Bintulu in Sarawak, James Shoal is within Malaysia’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

Royal Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar has said the exercise was conducted over 1000 nautical miles away from Malaysia’s EEZ and that the RMN had been informed about it through diplomatic channels.

“Putting aside the issue of where those ships actually were, the fact remains that the PLAN – through state media reports – has unequivocally underscored China’s claims over the waters around James Sh­o­al,” argued senior analyst Shahriman Lockman at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies.

“It was a display of China’s intent and resolve to assert its claims in the South China Sea, which extends into Malaysia’s EEZ.”

James Shoal is within the “nine-dash line” that China claims as its own territorial waters, added Jane’s Defence Weekly correspondent Dzirhan Mahadzir. 

Even if the ships were passing within Malaysia’s EEZ, noted a Malaysian government source, “it was within their right to exercise freedom of navigation.” 

But if PLAN was conducting a patrol or maritime exercise within the EEZ, they should get Malaysia’s consent, he stressed.

Commenting on the Chinese media reports, a United States embassy spokesman here said: “Claimants should avoid actions in disputed areas of the South China Sea that may raise tensions and undermine prospects for diplomacy. We encourage all parties to use their military capabilities in a manner conducive to the maintenance of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

On Jan 27, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Malaysia had not lodged an official protest over the exercise the day before. He said China was willing to resolve the dispute through negotiations.

“China appears to want bilateral negotiations,” said the Malaysian government source. 

But, he pointed out: “Everybody is disputing the same areas so it can’t be done bilaterally. And the scope of the area where they want to have the joint development is in our waters.”

What Can We Do? Kasi Amaran Aja La!

Photo taken from China's MOD website regarding their fleet exercises in the South China Sea during the past week, including off James Shoal

Many may not be aware that this happened again over the weekend. Nonetheless what can we do but lodge a political protest after the fact. It is a fact of life that those who are weak will be steamrolled by the strong. Anything more will elicit a response that we may not be able to counter. And strength is something that we do not have now. And in the near term, will not. Even if the naval base in Bintulu is built tomorrow, what assets can we put there anyway without losing our presence elsewhere? On a positive side, maybe this incident may push the Government to buy a HMS Daring class ship...........

Nation

 Chinese ships patrol area contested by Malaysia 

Published: Sunday January 26, 2014 MYT 7:28:00 PM
Updated: Sunday January 26, 2014 MYT 7:34:03 PM

 A screengrab from Google Maps showing the location of James Shoal.

BEIJING (Reuters): Three Chinese ships on Sunday patrolled the James Shoal, an area also claimed by Malaysia, and soldiers and officers on board swore to safeguard its sovereignty, in the latest sign of Beijing's territorial assertiveness in the South China Sea.

The group was made up of an amphibious landing craft, the Changbaishan, and two destroyers, state news agency Xinhua said.

"During the ceremony held in the Zengmu Reef area, soldiers and officers aboard swore an oath of determination to safeguard the country's sovereignty and maritime interests," Xinhua said. Zengmu Reef is the Chinese term for James Shoal.

Xinhua said the fleet commander Jiang Weilie "urged soldiers and officers to always be prepared to fight, improve combat capabilities and lead the forces to help build the country into a maritime power".

China is in an increasingly angry dispute with its neighbours over claims to parts of the potentially oil and gas-rich South China Sea. China lays claim to almost the whole of the sea, which is criss-crossed by crucial shipping lanes.Beijing regards the James Shoal as the southernmost part of the country's territory.

Last March, Malaysia protested against the incursion of four Chinese ships in James Shoal, about 80km off Sarawak on Borneo island. Chinese sailors fired guns in the air during the visit to the shoal.
In April, a Chinese maritime surveillance ship returned to James Shoal to leave behind steel markers to assert its claim.

China upset the Philippines and the United States this month when rules went into force demanding fishing boats seek permission to enter waters under the jurisdiction of China's southern province of Hainan, an area the provincial government says covers much of the South China Sea.

Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines also claim other parts of the South China Sea. China has a separate dispute with Japan in the East China Sea.

(Reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Ron Popeski)

Jumping The Gun?

Some bloggers have posted that the SKN 24 Corvettes will be downgraded based on what was said in a press conference after delivering his New Year Message to the Navy posted below.

From minute 41 it can can be seen that there is a program to install a new optical director for the SKN 24. It seems that with the installation of a new optical director on the Laksamana class corvettes, they are to be downgraded to a FAC-G class vessel. Personally I have my doubts about this but since I was not at the press conference and have not had the time to watch the video I reserve judgement because I feel that this should not have any effect on their guided missile control systems, obsolete it may be. Nonetheless the loss of its ASW capabilities as the systems has been transferred to the SKN 22 vessels as part of the SLEP program is understandable as I was made to understand that operationally the small size of the Laksamana class vessel coupled with the engine location does not allow for an effective ASW process on board.

There has been no news in the mainstream media about this yet so I hope the truth about the actual program will be revealed later.

When Keyboard Warriors Needs To Be Schooled

It has come to a sad situation when the responsible authorities has to respond to misguided allegations that they are supposedly not doing their job. But as long they take heed of their mistakes, it should be fine, but if not what to do.

Jawapan MKN kepada surat Nur Adilla Abd Rahim

 

Sejak kebelakangan ini, Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN) mendapati banyak pihak mengambil peluang untuk memberikan pandangan dan tidak kurang juga kritikan berhubung pelaksanaan operasi pengurusan banjir terutama di Pahang dan Terengganu. Justeru, MKN terpanggil untuk memberikan respon terhadap surat terbuka daripada Nur Adilla Abd Rahim bertajuk Surat terbuka kepada Majlis Keselamatan Negara bagi menjelaskan keadaan sebenar serta menangkis persepsi negatif terhadap jentera pengurusan bencana negara yang dicanang pihak tidak bertanggungjawab yang mempunyai agenda tertentu.

Penulis menyatakan kehairanan beliau terhadap tahap ketidaksiagaan badan-badan kerajaan tertentu sedangkan Malaysia menghadapi situasi banjir saban tahun. Luahan beliau, hanya apabila Ahli Parlimen Kuantan membawa perkara mengenai banjir di Kuantan ke Dewan Rakyat barulah ia mendapat perhatian pemimpin tertinggi negara. Hal ini memperlihatkan bahawasanya kedua-dua penulis dan Ahli Parlimen Kuantan tidak mengikuti perkembangan semasa.

Banjir yang berlaku di Kuantan bermula pada 2 Disember 2013 dan Ahli Parlimen Kuantan hanya membawa perkara ini ke Dewan Rakyat pada 4 Disember 2013. Pada waktu YB Fuziah Salleh mengutarakan usul berkenaan, anggota tindak balas sudah pun beroperasi selama dua hari bagi mengeluarkan mangsa untuk dipindahkan ke pusat pemindahan dan mangsa yang berjaya diselamatkan adalah seramai 13,460 orang di Kuantan sahaja. Pemindahan seluruh negara setakat jam 12.00 malam 4 Disember 2013 melibatkan 21, 253 mangsa. Sebenarnya, Puan Nur Adilla dalam tulisan ini memberi gambaran bahawa YB Fuziah Salleh, Ahli Parlimen Kuantan tidak turun ke padang sewaktu banjir mula berlaku serta tidak mengikuti perkembangan banjir di kawasan Parlimen Kuantan yang beliau wakili.

Dakwaan penulis dan juga Ahli parlimen Kuantan turut memperlihatkan ketidakfahaman mereka tentang sistem pengurusan bencana negara yang setaraf dengan sistem antarabangsa seperti badan-badan di bawah Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (United Nations) yang meliputi aktiviti sebelum, semasa dan selepas berlakunya sesuatu bencana.Adalah tidak adil bagi penulis untuk menyimpulkan bahawa operasi menyelamat, memindah, dan pengagihan keperluan kepada mangsa banjir hanya dilakukan oleh MKN setelah ditekan dan didesak oleh ahli politik. Perlu dijelaskan di sini bahawa MKN menguruskan bencana tanpa dipengaruhi sebarang fahaman politik mahupun individu berkepentingan. Prioriti utama adalah menyelamatkan nyawa tanpa mengira latar belakang, kaum, agama, serta fahaman politik seseorang.

Walhalnya, sebelum dicadangkan oleh penulis sekali pun, MKN saban tahun mengambil langkah  melakukan persiapan sebelum berlakunya bencana banjir. Hasil daripada post-mortem pengurusan banjir bagi musim tengkujuh lalu digunakan bagi memperbaiki kelemahan yang dikenal pasti supaya jentera pengurusan banjir akan datang lebih berkesan dalam memberikan perkhidmatan terbaik kepada masyarakat. 

Sejurus negara menghampiri musim tengkujuh atau Monsun Timur Laut 2013/2014, MKN mengadakan Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Pusat (JPBP) pada 24 September 2013 sebagai langkah persediaan awal.  Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (JMM) menjangkakan sebanyak 4 hingga 5 episod hujan lebat akan berlaku dalam tempoh sehingga Mac 2014.  Episod hujan lebat yang menyeluruh selama 3 hingga 7 hari akan menyebabkan risiko berlakunya banjir. Melihatkan keadaan ini, MKN mengarahkan supaya agensi serta aset pengurusan banjir diletakkan dalam keadaan bersiap sedia. Untuk makluman, wakil kerajaan Negeri turut dijemput untuk menghadiri Mesyuarat JPBP bagi berkongsi maklumat mengenai persediaan jentera pengurusan banjir serta ramalan keadaan cuaca. MKN negeri juga mengadakan Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana di negeri masing-masing bagi menyelaraskan persediaan di peringkat negeri dan daerah.

Pendek kata, kerajaan melalui pelbagai agensi pengurusan bencana termasuk MKN melakukan semua persediaan yang perlu bagi memastikan operasi menyelamat dan perpindahan dilakukan sepantas mungkin bagi mengelak kejadian tidak diingini serta memastikan bekalan dan keperluan di pusat pemindahan adalah mencukupi.

Untuk makluman penulis, seramai 56,997 anggota daripada Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, Polis DiRaja Malaysia, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia, serta Jabatan Pertahanan Awam di seluruh negara diletakkan dalam keadaan bersiap sedia untuk memberikan bantuan. Selain itu, aset kerajaan yang boleh dikerahkan untuk operasi banjir di seluruh negara ditempatkan mengikut zon. Melihat kepada keadaan banjir semasa di pantai timur, MKN dan agensi-agensi tindak balas berkaitan mengambil tindakan untuk menggerakkan kekuatan dan aset di negeri-negeri yang tidak dilanda banjir bagi meningkatkan keupayaan agensi tindak balas dalam operasi banjir di kawasan yang terjejas banjir.

Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) selaku agensi yang bertanggungjawab dalam pengurusan di pusat-pusat pemindahan mewartakan sebanyak 4,696 pusat pemindahan di seluruh negara yang boleh menempatkan seramai 1.3 juta mangsa. 54% daripada pusat pemindahan yang dikenal pasti adalah Kompleks Penghulu, Dewan Orang Ramai, Pusat Komuniti, dan lain-lain. Selebihnya adalah sekolah. Selain itu, JKM juga menubuhkan Depot Simpanan Keperluan Bencana dan Stor Bencana Negeri di beberapa lokasi strategik di Pengkalan Chepa, Kemaman, Bedong, Sungai Buloh, dan Muar. Selain itu, terdapat 513 Pangkalan Hadapan bagi menyimpan stok barangan makanan dan barangan bantuan bencana ke kawasan yang berisiko terputus hubungan atau terputus bekalan.

Namun, manusia hanya mampu merancang dan Allah yang menentukan segalanya. Perancangan dan persediaan tidak selalunya berjalan lancar terutama dalam keadaan dunia yang mengalami perubahan iklim. Penulis seharusnya sedar cabaran yang dihadapi oleh agensi pengurusan bencana apabila terpaksa berdepan dengan cuaca ekstrem yang membawa kepada bencana. Dalam kes di Kuantan, rekod cerapan hujan dari 1 hingga 3 Disember adalah sebanyak 900 mililiter. Cerapan ini adalah tiga kali ganda daripada jumlah cerapan sepanjang  Disember bagi 2012 iaitu 330 mililiter sebulan. Faktor ini, ditambahkan dengan fenomena air pasang besar menyebabkan air naik dengan mendadak sekali.

Sistem ramalan awal Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (JMM) setaraf dengan negara maju. Namun, apabila melakukan ramalan bagi cuaca tropika seperti di Malaysia, ia ternyata agak sukar dan ini turut diperakui oleh pakar-pakar meteorologi dunia. Ramalan berlakunya episod hujan walaupun dapat dilakukan 7 hari ke hadapan namun ia tidak dapat menentukan lokasi tepat kejadian hujan, sebaliknya hanya secara umum. Lanjutan daripada ramalan JMM, amaran awal disebarkan melalui media termasuk media elektronik dan bantuan polis supaya penduduk di kawasan berisiko berjaga-jaga. Sejurus air mula naik, agensi penyelamat melakukan operasi pemindahan.

Mengenai dakwaan tentang bantuan yang  lambat tiba serta keadaan yang teruk di pusat pemindahan, ia harus dicerna dengan minda yang rasional. Harus difahami bahawa kerja pemindahan memerlukan masa berikutan keadaan cuaca, jumlah mangsa, serta faktor yang tidak dapat dielakkan. Terdapat mangsa yang enggan berpindah meskipun dipujuk dan akhirnya terkandas berikutan air naik terlalu dalam.

Peningkatan mendadak jumlah mangsa banjir melebihi jangkaan awal menyebabkan keadaan agak tidak tersusun di pusat-pusat pemindahan pada peringkat awal. Ekoran daripada kenaikan aras air yang tinggi akibat hujan ekstrem dan air pasang besar, terdapat beberapa pusat pemindahan turut dibanjiri. Mangsa di pusat pemindahan berkenaan terpaksa ditempatkan di pusat pemindahan lain yang menyebabkan sedikit kesesakan.

Berikutan situasi ini, JKM juga terpaksa mengambil langkah menyusun semula pengagihan bekalan makanan dan bahan mentah bagi memastikan keperluan mencukupi. Selain itu, pihak berkuasa turut mengalami cabaran daripada segi logistik bagi menghantar bekalan berikutan keadaan cuaca yang buruk serta jalan raya ditenggelami air. Namun, ini hanya berlaku pada peringkat awal pembukaan pusat pemindahan sahaja dan keadaan kini lebih stabil dan bertambah baik serta bekalan keperluan adalah mencukupi. Bagi kawasan yang terputus hubungan, bantuan dihantar melalui helikopter.

Melihatkan keadaan semasa banjir yang melanda negara, MKN perhatikan ramai yang cuba membandingkan Malaysia dengan negara Jepun yang dikatakan lebih unggul dalam menguruskan bencana. Walaupun ia adalah suatu perkara yang positif bertujuan penambahbaikan, namun adakah mereka ini sedar bahawa apabila negara Jepun dilanda bencana, semua pihak di segenap lapisan masyarakat meletakkan perbezaan fahaman politik dan ideologi mereka ketepi dan berganding bahu untuk menangani krisis yang dihadapi.

Kerajaan Jepun seperti lain-lain negara yang dilanda bencana yang diluar jangkaan atau berskala besar turut mengalami masalah untuk menguruskannya di peringkat awalan. Menyedari hakikat ini,  masyarakat setempat serta organisasi sukarelawan tempatan memainkan peranan mereka sebelum ketibaan pihak berkuasa. Mereka ini mempunyai kesedaran tinggi peranan dan tanggungjawab yang seharusnya mereka mainkan tanpa menuding jari menyalahkan mana-mana pihak. Ini membolehkan negara mereka untuk bangkit kembali dengan pantas selepas berlakunya musibah. Masyarakat Jepun sama ada orang awam atau parti politik tidak memijak di atas kepala agensi dan anggota penyelamat untuk mendabik dada sendiri.

Dalam keghairahan kita untuk membandingkan situasi dalam negara dengan negara luar yang dirasakan lebih ke hadapan, seharusnya kesediaan masyarakat untuk turut sama menggalas perubahan juga harus diambil kira.Tahap kesedaran rakyat Jepun terhadap pentingnya untuk bersedia menghadapi bencana adalah amat tinggi. Menyedari bahawa mereka tinggal di kawasan yang berisiko menghadapi bencana alam, mereka memberikan kerjasama dalam melaksanakan langkah persediaan termasuk mengambil insurans bagi melindungi harta benda mereka.

Mengenai bantuan berupa wang berjumlah RM500 yang didakwa penulis sebagai terlalu sedikit, ingin diperbetulkan di sini bahawa ia bukanlah sebagai pampasan atau ganti rugi kepada kerugian yang dialami mangsa. Terma yang sebetulnya bagi pemberian wang kepada mangsa ini adalah sumbangan Bantuan Wang Ihsan kerana ia hanya bagi meringankan beban kepada mangsa atas dasar keprihatinan kerajaan bagi membolehkan mereka ini memulakan kehidupan sejurus selepas berakhirnya banjir.

MKN juga mengambil kesempatan ini untuk menjawab tohmahan kononnya Bantuan Wang Ihsan terlebih dahulu masuk ke dalam poket segelintir pihak yang tamak. Sebagai makluman, sumber kewangan bagi peruntukan Bantuan Wang Ihsan kepada mangsa bencana adalah daripada Kumpulan Wang Amanah Bantuan Bencana Negara (KWABBN) yang tertakluk kepada tatacara kewangan kerajaan sedia ada dan proses pengauditan.

Proses penyerahan Bantuan Wang Ihsan juga tidak dilakukan sewenang-wenangnya, dan memerlukan dokumen pengenalan diri selain hanya empunya diri iaitu ketua keluarga yang disahkan dibenarkan untuk mengambilnya. Semua keluarga yang layak akan diberikan Bantuan Wang Ihsan tanpa mengira kaum, agama dan fahaman politik waima mereka mengenakan pakaian melambangkan parti yang disokong sekalipun semasa proses penyerahan. Hasilnya, akaun KWABBN bebas daripada sebarang komen audit yang negatif berikutan ia diuruskan dengan baik.

Sebagai makluman, negara pernah mengalami situasi banjir yang lebih buruk dan menyeluruh di seluruh negara melibatkan lebih daripada 230,000 mangsa yang berpindah pada 2010, selain daripada 140,000 mangsa pada 2006 dan 100,000 mangsa pada 2005.  Namun, situasi banjir semasa yang diperlihatkan adalah seolah-olah kerajaan tidak berdaya untuk menguruskannya, sedangkan mangsa yang terlibat pada ketika ini berjumlah sekitar 50,000 orang iaitu jauh lebih sedikit. Hakikatnya, realiti di peringkat lapangan, keadaan ini masih boleh dikawal dan ditangani dengan baik walaupun terdapat gangguan dan cabaran logistik pada peringkat awal.

Tujuan MKN mengemukakan respon bukan disebabkan tidak boleh menerima kritikan tetapi bagi memperbetulkan salah faham serta kesalahan fakta yang didakwa oleh banyak pihak termasuk penulis sendiri. MKN menghargai segala pandangan konstruktif yang diutarakan. MKN sentiasa berusaha untuk memantapkan dan memperbaiki sistem pengurusan bencana dalam keadaan perubahan iklim dan senario pembangunan negara yang rancak.  Namun, ia juga perlu mengambil kira keupayaan dan kapasiti negara selain melihat kepada kebolehmampanan kepada sesuatu usaha yang dilakukan.

Semua pihak dipohon untuk tidak melihat dari jauh dan mempolitikkan pengurusan bencana serta mengambil tindakan menyebarkan maklumat yang boleh menjejaskan kestabilan dan kelancaran operasi banjir yang boleh merendahkan moral petugas yang sedang bertungkus-lumus  memberi khidmat terbaik kepada masyarakat. Sebaliknya, semua pihak perlu berganding bahu bagi membantu jentera pengurusan bencana di peringkat tempatan. Nur Adilla Abd Rahim adalah seorang yang terpelajar. Justeru MKN yakin puan faham dengan maksud "Good deeds should be spotlighted and not laserred".  – 10 Disember, 2013.
 * Artikel ini disediakan oleh Setiausaha Majlis Keselamatan Negara, Jabatan Perdana Menteri.

** Artikel ini telah disiarkan di Malaysian Insider http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/rencana/article/pengurusan-bencana-negara-majlis-keselamatan-negara

Waste Of National Resources Is It?

To those who says that maintaining a standing force of security units is a waste of time as they would only be sitting on their butt, only good for Merdeka Parades and who are they going to war with et cetera et cetera may not realise that these security personnel and the rescue units like Bomba and JPAM are the ones who are risking their necks each year during natural calamities to save the rakyat.

But I bet these people will keep on saying their mantra that the nation do not need armed forces bla bla bla! If you are interested, you can click on this link " Operasi Murni 2013 - ATM dan Rakyat berpisah tiada" for a true picture of what they are doing now.

A member of the rescue team helping flood victims at Kampung Pogoh 2 to evacuate in Segamat on Wednesday. Source ; The Star.

 

Bomba Photo Credit : VAT 69 - Perjuangan Semalam

The Fire Services and JPAM has also sent in their units to help with the operations. For the record, these are the Armed Forces units now engaged in the Ops Murni at this time.

Army Troops Under The Command of 3rd Division.  Pahang – Operations Area  Kuantan, Maran, Pekan, Rompin and Jerantut.

– 12 Rejimen Askar Melayu DiRaja (RAMD) Mekanise, 1 Kor Armor DiRaja (KAD) Troops from Gerup Gerak Khas (GGK) - using 16 boats, 16 3 ton vehicles, 4 Land Rovers and TATRA 7 ton ;6 in Pahang and 2 in Terengganu.

Johor – Operation  Area Batu Pahat, Muar, Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Segamat dan Mersing. In Mersing – 1 Rejimen Renjer DiRaja (RRD) using 2 boats, 2 3 ton vehicles and 2 7 ton TATRA 7 ton in Johor.

Air Assets being utilised are the new EC725 and elderly Nuris from the RMAF and two helicopters from the MMEA.

I end with this report from The Star with a photo of an Armed Forces' asset which purchase that was heavily criticised before this, operating even though not at Full Operational Status yet.

Army swoops in to flood-hit areas to provide aid

by shaun ho

Relief effort: A Royal Malaysian Air Force helicopter delivering aid to flood victims in Kuantan.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Army has sent in troops to help flood relief efforts in Pahang, Terengganu and Johor.

The relief operation, named Ops Murni, was announced at 4.50pm on Tuesday, and assets and troops were sent to flood-hit zones on Wednesday.

A statement from the Defence Ministry said 190 soldiers from twelve Royal Malay Regiments (Mechanised), one Royal Armoured Corp, as well as 35 Special Forces personnel have been sent to Pahang.

Helping hand: Army personnel helping to evacuate victims who were stranded during the flooding in Kampung Sungai Isap in Kuantan.Source : The Star

Evacuation efforts are being undertaken in the districts of Kuantan, Maran, Pekan, Rompin dan Jerantut with 16 boats, 16 three-tonne trucks and four Land Rovers.

Six seven-tonne trucks were also ordered there, with two others sent to Terengganu.

In Johor, 32 soldiers from a Royal Ranger Regiment with two boats, two three-tonne trucks and two seven-tonne trucks were sent to assist with evacuation in Batu Pahat, Muar, Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Segamat dan Mersing.

The statement also said the Kuantan air base has been assisting the National Security Council to monitor seven flood relief centres since Monday.

"A Nuri helicopter from the Search and Rescue Squadron rescued four flood victims and sent them to the relief centre at SMK Paya Besar," said the statement.

So far, an estimated 20,378 evacuees have been placed in 164 relief centres.