KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 2,580 machinery assets of the Public Works Ministry and its agencies, the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), have been put on alert to face the impact of the transition from South-West Monsoon to the North-East Monsoon phase, says Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
The Works Minister said the assets, including 4WD vehicles, excavators, three and five tonne lorries and earthmovers, are ready to be mobilised for various relief missions.
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"The ministry and its agencies are prepared to ensure that the people's communication network is not affected, for better safety of users.
"This is in line with the instructions of the National Security Council (MKN) 20, where JKR is responsible for providing vehicles and manpower for disaster site maintenance and transport logistics.
"JKR also plays a role in providing temporary shelters such as canopies or tents, technical services and expertise in the fields of forensic engineering, geotechnics, structures and others in landslides and structural failure of buildings or land as well as assessing public infrastructure damage due to disasters," he said in a statement Wednesday (Sept 27).
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Nanta said the JKR Slope Engineering Branch will also check and ensure that slope drainage systems are in good condition and identify early signs of slope failure along the federal and state road alignment.
He said slopes identified as high and very high risk will be given attention during patrols and inspections.
He said as many as 35 rain gauge stations on critical slopes along the federal roads of Peninsular Malaysia covering Pahang, Kelantan, Kedah, Perak and Selangor have also been maintained and are functioning.
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Nanta also said the current warning will be displayed on the JKR Slope Early Warning System website where a warning through SMS will be received when the rainfall rate exceeds the threshold value as an early warning of landslides.
"While for Sabah and Sarawak, a total of 12 rain gauge stations are in the application for approval of allocation by the Finance Ministry," he said.
According to him, the ministry is also ready to move Bailey bridges as an alternative route to connect areas cut off by floods.
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"JKR will also activate standard operating procedures (SOP) for roads affected by disasters by implementing road closures,” he said.
Information on the status of road disaster incidents can be obtained from the JKR disaster portal at www.bencanaalam.jkr.gov.my and through its X accounts at @JKRMalaysia, @CSFJ_JKR and Facebook at "Department of Public Works Malaysia".
The public can also contact the Disaster Operations Room (BiGBen) hotline at 03-2610 7559/ 7727, he said.
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Users can also channel any information about road damage due to the monsoon transition through the MyJalan application, which can be obtained for free by downloading from the various app stores.
The Meteorology Department expects the country to be in the final phase of the South-West Monsoon in September 2023 and is expected to enter the North-East Monsoon phase in November 2023 until February 2024.
Among the impacts of this monsoon shift is an increase of 20% to 40% of the long-term average rainfall. - Bernama
