SEGAMAT: More manpower and assets from the Armed Forces will be deployed to flood-hit areas in the country to assist with flood rescue efforts, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

       The Defence Minister said another 60 officers and 1,123 personnel members had been instructed to assist with the flood efforts on top of the existing teams from the Armed Forces.

       "Besides personnel, I have also instructed for 160 additional assets to be on standby such as boats, boat engines, 1-tonne, 3-tonne and 7-tonne lorries, tipper trucks, backhoe and field ambulances.

       "The additions will be deployed according to the needs of the different states," he said in a press conference after attending a flood briefing by government agencies at the Royal Artillery Fourth Regiment Segamat camp here on Monday (Jan 3).

       He added that the Armed Forces’ priority was to rescue flood victims before coordinating with the flood relief centres and relevant agencies on the distribution of food and other essential goods.

       On Dec 30, Hishammuddin said the Armed Forces had set into motion the deployment of personnel and assets to 86 locations nationwide to assist the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and other relevant agencies.

       It consisted of 115 officers, 2,768 personnel as well as assets including six 7-tonne trucks, 160 3-tonne trucks, 129 boats and 109 boat engines.