KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — The government is making careful preparations in all aspects to face possible year-end floods to ensure every action taken by the agencies involved is implemented in an orderly manner, said Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

He said the ministry, especially the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) was fully prepared to face the task physically, mentally and logistically, based on past experience with the aid of the other agencies.

“My ministry is better prepared and has learned via the disaster management cycles prior to this by making a careful preparations,” he told reporters after opening the 2015 World Town Planning Day Conference here today.

Abdul Rahman said JBPM and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) would work at the frontline to rescue victims, while the National Disaster Management Agency, which was recently set up, would become the main agency to manage and monitor the flood disaster situation in the country.

“As which agency will be in charge, I will raise [sic] at the Cabinet meeting this week.

“We must ensure only one party gives orders to all the agencies so that information and tasks to be implemented become clearer and systematic,” he said.

Based on previous experience, only JBPM and PDRM headed operations during a disaster situation while other agencies such as the Malaysian Civil Defence Department and the People’s Volunteer Corps assisted.

“We want to avoid any overlapping of duties and directives during a disaster because everyone must know their respective responsibilities and tasks,” he said.

According to Abdul Rahman, there are 277 JBPM stations in the peninsula which were in readiness to give aid during floods.

In another development, Abdul Rahman said public transportation must become the first choice among the people in the Klang Valley when the three Mass Rail Transit which were under construction, are completed because they were a cheaper option to driving a private vehicle.

“The public will have to spend on toll, petrol and parking, which are more expensive, if they are using their own vehicles.

“The public must change their types of daily transportations because I am confident, at that time, the fares of all types of public transportations such as Light Rail Transit, bus and taxi will be cheaper and reasonable,” he added. — Bernama