SHAH ALAM: With a very small window before the monsoon arrives, bringing along with it heavy rainfall, various training and simulation programmes are being initiated by the Selangor government to train all relevant personnel and agencies to be prepared for any eventuality.

One such event was the two-day training and disaster simulation programme launched by Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari.

Speaking to reporters after the launch yesterday, Amirudin said Selangor was 80% prepared for the floods.

The completed preparations included placing the equipment and assets needed for rescue in each of the state’s districts.

“The remaining 20% involves real action, such as reporting incidents effectively (to the relevant agencies),’’ he said, adding the state had a real situation to handle during a minor flooding in Klang’s Sungai Sirih.

The state, said Mentri Besar, had learnt much from last year’s flooding which saw the loss of lives and property, and would improve accordingly.

“The state government has issued directives to all federal and state agencies to be prepared for any flooding beginning from now.

“We want to prevent the loss of lives like those in the previous flooding incident,’’ he said.

According to Amirudin, Selangor has set aside RM5mil in case of flood, out of which RM4mil is from the Covid-19 funds contributed by the public and the remaining RM1mil from the state government.

The simulation and training programme was also aimed at improving the standard operating procedures relating to rescue in accordance with the National Security Council’s prerequisites.

“This is to enable disasters to be handled quickly and efficiently to prevent the loss of lives. In disasters, search and rescue must be immediately initiated,’’ he added.

The simulation exercise also emphasised on the coordination and synchronisation of all relevant agencies involved in the relief work.

Earlier in his speech, Amirudin said the state government had directed 15,972 personnel from 67 federal and state agencies to be on duty for floods.

He said some 2,611 government assets including boats, four-wheel drives, lorries, jet skis and excavators were also ready.

A total of 343 personnel from 67 federal and state agencies attended the programme which kicked off on Wednesday.

The National Disaster Management Agency had announced recently that eight out of Selangor’s nine districts – Klang, Petaling, Gombak, Hulu Langat, Sepang, Kuala Langat, Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor – had been identified as hotspots for floods.

The Irrigation and Drainage Department said only Hulu Selangor district was not included in the list for hotspots. Fifty-two hotspots in the state were also identified as being severely flood prone.

In last year’s floods in Selangor, 25 people lost their lives while many homes and belongings were destroyed.