‘PREDICT DISASTERS BETTER’
Nadma to cope better with involvement of NGOs, advises DPM
THE National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) needs to improve its ability to predict new disasters the country may face so that long-term preparations can be made.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said climate change needed to be studied in a more in-depth manner for such predictions to be done.
“The country may face new disasters, such as prolonged droughts and typhoons.
“It is not a problem that occurs regularly in this country, but we need to look at making the necessary preparations, starting now.
“We need to have scenario planning to face unexpected (disasters) in the future,” she said after a briefing by Nadma personnel, led by its director-general, Datuk Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus.
Dr Wan Azizah said there was a need to review the effectiveness of the nation’s early warning system for floods to minimise damage to property and loss of life.
“This includes a programme for informing and educating the public to be more aware of, and sensitive to, warnings which are issued (by the government or government agencies),” she said, adding that there was also a need for regular testing of the tsunami early warning system.
She said an audit needed to be done on disaster risks in each state as every state had a unique disaster risk profile.
“As the profiles are different, preparations will also vary from state to state and the assets and technology needed would also vary... we need to know this so that we can manage disasters more efficiently.
“Nadma must also plan training sessions with other agencies to ensure that there is coordination at the operational level, besides holding discussions with non-governmental organisations on coordination during times of disaster.
“Directive 20 of the National Security Council also has to be studied by Nadma to see if improvements need to be made as it was issued after the Highland Towers incident 25 years ago,” she said.
Directive 20 deals with the policy and management of national disasters and relief in Malaysia.
On Dec 11, 1993, 48 people were killed when a block of the Highland Towers luxury condominium in Ulu Klang, Selangor, collapsed.
Jailani said Nadma had been running audits on each state’s disaster risks, but added that the agency would strengthen the process by involving other agencies.