KUALA LUMPUR: Police will request 785 boats in order to equip district police headquarters nationwide for flood response.

       Federal Internal Security and Public Order Department director Comm Datuk Hazani Ghazali (pic) said they would suggest to the government that five boats be acquired for each of the 157 district police headquarters nationwide.

       “These boats will act as a quick response measure should flooding occur within their jurisdiction,” he told reporters yesterday.

       Comm Hazani added that floods had claimed 54 victims nationwide while two others were still missing.

       Selangor recorded 25 deaths followed by 21 deaths in Pahang, Kelantan (four), Sabah (three) and Negri Sembilan (one).

       “The two missing victims were reported in Pahang,” he said.

       On the current flood situation, Comm Hazani said 3,989 families involving 13,322 people had been affected in seven states.

       “As at noon on Wednesday, 172 evacuation centres are active in these seven states,” he said.

       “A total of 6,042 police personnel have been deployed for flood operations, including Internal Security and Public Order Department elements such as the Air Wing Unit, General Operations Forces, Marine Police and Federal Reserve Unit.”

       On the situation in Segamat, Comm Hazani said four villages had been completely cut off due to rising waters there.

       “We have placed a police Eurocopter AS355 Squirrel to help deliver basic amenities to the people stranded in these villages,” he added.