A Sealegs 7.1 Amphibious Rigid Inflatable Boat and eight five-tonne lorries bearing the colours of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Sarawak will be put into service in the northern region, boosting the state’s ability to respond to disasters such as floods.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that the lorries, which cost RM5.3 million, and the RM640,000 amphibious boat will strengthen and empower the committee’s machinery on a district and division-levels.

“The lorries are high and built to brace for high water, while the boat can travel both on land and water,” said Uggah, who was at the APM Centre in Jalan Diplomatik here yesterday to receive the new assets on behalf of the State Disaster Management Committee.

Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, added that they hoped to gain another four lorries so that each division would be able to have one.

He also thanked the prime minister, deputy prime minister, and National Disaster Management Agency for boosting Sarawak’s capacity in dealing with disasters.

Also present at the handover was APM chief commissioner Major General (Rtd) Dato Azmy Yahya.

Uggah said they were also prepared to address any fires breaking out during the dry season, especially in places like Miri, where the peat soil fires would have already spread far and deep by the time flames are sighted.

“I’ll be going to Kuala Baram, Miri to have a look. We have fires there almost every year, but now we have tube wells and watch towers, an asset we use to spot and extinguish fire in peat soil areas,” Uggah said.

As signatories of the ASEAN Agreement on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution, we must take precautionary measures so as not to affect neighbouring Brunei, he added.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Georgette Tan

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