PUTRAJAYA, Oct 29 — The Home Ministry (KDN) has ordered all its agencies and departments to take proactive steps to make thorough preparations for the North-east Monsoon, expected to begin this month and last until March next year.

“Make sure our personnel are already trained, and our equipment is serviceable. There must be no boats with engines that fail to start when they are needed,” said Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman.

“There must be no coordination issues over who should be deployed or how operations should be carried out. All department heads are asked to take these matters into account from now on.

“Do not wait until the floods are severe before we act,” he said at the Home Ministry’s Monthly Assembly and Innovation Day celebration, attended by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail here today.