PUTRAJAYA, May 17 — Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) personnel have been urged to remain prepared for any eventualities during the current South-west Monsoon phase.

APM chief commissioner Mohammad Abiddin Abd Rahman said they must remain adaptive and proactive by leveraging their training and experience to ensure a swift response when needed.

“I am confident that various preparatory measures have been taken by all APM personnel, including conducting a range of training programmes for members and local communities to reduce disaster risks to lives and property,” he said.

He said this while speaking at the Federal Territories (FT) APM assembly here today, which was also attended by FT Civil Defence director Mohd Rosman Abdullah.

The Southwest Monsoon is reported to have begun on May 14 and is expected to continue until September, following the onset of consistent winds blowing from the southwest towards the region.

Recently, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip reportedly said that during this period, lower humidity levels typically result in reduced cloud formation in most areas.

This condition will lead to lower rainfall distribution across the country compared to other periods, with more dry days than rainy days.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Abiddin Abd Rahman urged APM personnel to remain resilient and committed in carrying out their responsibilities and daily duties in service of religion, nation and country.

“I also hope that we will continue to enhance our skills and knowledge, while strengthening our integrity and team spirit. We are not merely a rescue force, but also a pillar of national resilience trusted by the people,” he said. — Bernama

JAKARTA, May 17 — Indonesian authorities have advised the public to stay away from high-risk areas around Mount Semeru after the volcano erupted several times over the weekend.

The volcano erupted three times on Sunday morning with ash columns reaching 700 metres above the summit.

On Saturday it erupted twice within about 90 minutes, with the highest ash column rising up to 1,000 metres into the sky, according to Antara news agency citing Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG).

It urged public not to carry out any activities within 13 kilometres southeast of the summit along Besuk Kobokan, a river channel that is prone to lava flows and hot clouds.

Residents and visitors were also prohibited from activities within a five-kilometre radius of the crater due to the risk of incandescent rock ejections. — Bernama

MELAKA, May 17 — The Kota Laksamana state constituency will soon have its own State Legislative Assembly Development and Coordination Committee Complex (Japerun).

Kota Laksamana assemblyman Low Chee Leong said the complex will be built on a 0.83-hectare site in Kota Laksamana Jaya, featuring offices and a multipurpose hall. Construction is expected to take three years.

“The Melaka state government has approved RM6.5 million for this project. The residents have long awaited this. Kota Laksamana has had no proper Japerun building. We have been operating out of a small community hall in Kampung Morten, which is cramped and uncomfortable,” he told reporters.

He spoke after the launching ceremony of the WRUR Programme: Kampung Kita for the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency, officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, who also performed a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony for the complex.

Low, who is also deputy exco for Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security, said the complex will be a one-stop centre for constituency programmes and activities, streamlining all public welfare matters.

On drainage, he said this will be a key focus for the constituency’s future development, given its mix of old and new towns.

“Five flood hotspots have been identified: Pengkalan Rama Pantai, Kota Laksamana, Kampung Enam, Tengkera and Mata Kucing. Between 30 and 100 homes are affected, depending on flood severity,” he said.

He stressed that flash floods must be tackled consistently and seriously, as they threaten not just property, but residents’ safety and health.

Earlier, he noted that over RM10 million has been spent on infrastructure and public facilities in Kota Laksamana from 2003 to last year.

Projects completed or underway include road resurfacing, upgrading streetlights and urban lighting, improving tourism sites and walkways, upgrading flats and drainage systems, as well as public facilities repairs. — Bernama

ALOR GAJAH: Sebuah pusat peranginan di sini gempar apabila berlaku lima letupan kecil dipercayai berpunca daripada tindak balas bahan kimia dengan air dalam kejadian petang semalam.

Kejadian kira-kira jam 3.30 petang itu turut menyebabkan berlaku tumpahan bahan kimia di dalam bilik pam ketika kerja penyelenggaraan kolam renang dijalankan pekerja.

Ketua Zon 2 Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) Melaka, Tc. Zulkhairani Ramli, berkata pihaknya menerima panggilan kecemasan sebelum sepasukan lapan pegawai dan anggota dari Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Alor Gajah digerakkan ke lokasi dengan turut membabitkan Pasukan Khas Bahan Kimia Berbahaya (HAZMAT).

"Tumpahan bahan kimia di dalam bilik pam berlaku ketika pekerja sedang menjalankan kerja penyelenggaraan bahan kimia untuk kolam renang.

"Hasil pemeriksaan mendapati terdapat kehadiran gas klorin sebanyak tiga bahagian per sejuta (ppm), manakala bacaan gas lain seperti oksigen, karbon monoksida dan hidrogen sulfida berada pada paras normal," katanya kepada pemberita.

Beliau berkata, pemeriksaan lanjut mendapati bahan kimia yang terbabit ialah 90 peratus trichloroisocyanuric dalam bentuk serbuk yang digunakan bagi tujuan pembersihan kolam air pancut.

Katanya, Anggota HAZMAT kemudian mengesan berlaku lima letupan kecil dipercayai akibat tindak balas bahan kimia berkenaan dengan kuantiti air yang banyak selepas tumpahan berlaku.

"Dua anggota penyelam bahan kimia memakai pakaian perlindungan diri (PPE) Tahap A memasuki kawasan terbabit bagi membuat zon kawalan serta menjalankan proses nyahcemar. Bahan kimia berkenaan turut dipindahkan ke bekas yang lebih selamat bagi mengelakkan sebarang risiko lain," katanya.

Zulkhairani berkata, bacaan gas klorin kembali normal kepada sifar ppm selepas kerja pengawalan selesai dijalankan dan tiada mangsa cedera dalam kejadian itu.