KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — The Selangor government said today it is bracing itself for the possibility that it will be hit by the next wave of floods which has so far already caused 10 deaths and displaced tens of thousands people across Peninsular Malaysia.

State Mentri Besar Azmin Ali said that a flood operation centre will be opened immediately to coordinated efforts to obtain up to date information on the weather as well as to prepare the Selangor government’s machinery in the face of the worst flood crisis Malaysia has seen in decades.

“I implore organisations like the Selangor Humanitarian Aid Mission Organisation (Pantas) to amplify the number of volunteers to help with the rescue efforts as well as the clean up once the floods have cleared.,” he said in a short statement.

“The Selangor government will ensure that all of its local council authorities are on duty with lorries and vehicles to clean up all the rubbish and solid waste. This is important to avoid the spread of any possible diseases,” he added.

State government-linked companies (GLCs) have also been ordered to assist in supplying schooling equipment and to aid in cleaning up affected areas to ensure that flood victims can get back to their daily lives as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday acknowledged the serious floods that have submerged much of Kelantan but insisted that there was no necessity to declare a state of emergency in the north-eastern state, saying it might impede the locals from claiming compensation from their insurance companies later.

As at 8am today, the total number of evacuees nationwide increased slightly to 97,837 from last night’s figure of 97,792.

The number displaced by the flood in Kelantan also plunged to 24,162 from 35,622 people last night as weather conditions in the state improved somewhat yesterday, although a senior meteorologist cautioned to expect another round of rain later tonight.

Terengganu’s flood refugees still stands the highest nationwide at 34,454 while Pahang recorded 31,058.

Flood waters have also subsided in Negri Sembilan and Kedah, allowing the evacuees to return home to begin their massive cleanup.

Penang and Malacca are the only two states out of 11 on the peninsula to be spared from the northeasterly monsoon floods so far.