KUALA LUMPUR: The armed forces have placed 5,234 personnel on standby for flood relief and rescue operations as the country braces for the northeast monsoon.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the deployment comprised 314 officers and 4,920 other ranks, supported by hundreds of land and water assets.

He said the military also prepared 589 land assets and 344 water assets for deployment in flood-affected areas.