KOTA KINABALU: About 14,209 members from various agencies, including the Sabah branch of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), are prepared to face the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) in the state.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sabah APM director Mohd Yusoff Samad stated that besides the APM, other agencies involved in the preparedness include the State Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), military, Social Welfare Department, and other relevant state agencies. As part of the inter-agency preparations involving logistics for land, sea, and air, a total of 1,456 members are ready, comprising 977 for land logistics, 463 for sea, and 16 for air.

The MTL began on November 5 and is expected to continue until March next year, with heavy rain anticipated in the states on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as in Sarawak and Sabah. This weather pattern could lead to flooding in low-lying areas and regions near rivers.

Mohd Yusoff detailed that for the APM, in the first 24 hours
of a disaster, the agency will deploy 1,049 members covering 30 districts and 10 sub-districts, starting from the Kudat, Kota Kinabalu, Beaufort, Keningau, Tawau, and Sandakan zones. The number of officers will be increased for a maximum of seven to 14 days before being replaced by other APM officers.

In relation to a recent ceremony, Mohd Yusoff mentioned that 57 members of the Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Civil Defence Student Corps (SISPA) were commissioned with the rank of Second Lieutenant. These cadets completed five mandatory courses under the public defence training module and will be stationed in their respective localities to prepare for any disaster and emergency. He noted that some members are from the Peninsula and Sarawak and will serve in their home states.