Malaysia needs disaster education centres
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is in dire need of a disaster education centre in every state to inculcate disaster preparedness in the public.
Institute Islamic Understanding Malaysia ( IKIM) Centre for Science and Environment Studies director Dr Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen Shaikh Mohd Salleh said the centre would act as an all-inclusive training ground, education platform, documentation medium, practical learning source and preservation of memory purpose.
Citing Japan as an example, Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen said the island nation has an of advanced disaster management system whereby even hotels have information on what to do during disasters such as earthquake.
“In Malaysia, we only focus on the ‘during and post’ disaster management. However, it is also essential to enlighten the public on pre- disaster management such as food supply provision and makeshift camps for temporary accommodation during flash floods, landslide and earthquakes,” he said.
He told reporters this at the ‘International Workshop Toward Building Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia’ held yesterday.
The two- day workshop ending today is held in conjunction with the three-year collaborative research project between Kyoto University, Japan and IKIM that ends next year.
The fifth in its series, the workshop aims to establish cooperation in disaster risk reduction efforts in four Asian countries namely Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Asked on which agency should be responsible for the centre, Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen suggested cooperation based on the National Blue Ocean Strategy among local at IKIM here, universities, National Science Centre, Petrosains, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
“We need to change our mindset regarding natural disasters. Certain Malaysians tend to think that as long as the disaster does not affect me, it is not my problem. We have to change this individualistic mentality and learn from past experiences,” he added.
Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen also suggested there should be continuous exposure rather than seasonal exposure with regards to natural disasters. — Bernama