Lee: Intensify awareness on water activity safety

PETALING JAYA: Programmes to instil safety awareness on water activities must be intensified following the high number of drowning cases, said Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

He said the country has many beaches, waterfalls, lakes, rivers and water theme parks that draw many local and foreign visitors.

However, many of them are unaware of the potential hazards.

“We need to intensify awareness programmes on water activity safety,” the National Water Activity Safety Council (NWSC) member said in a statement.

Lee said about 700 drowning cases were reported nationwide each year.

As such, he suggested that a department be set-up to plan, enforce, strategise and implement drowning prevention measures.

He said all local authorities that have jurisdiction over water activities must do more to prevent drownings.

The measures could include conducting frequent safety audits at water activity areas, putting up adequate signs to warn the public of the danger zones and fencing up disused mining ponds.

On Friday, a family of five drowned at the Tok Bali beach in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan.

On the same day, a four-year-old boy drowned in Ipoh, Perak, after playing in a large water-filled container in the bathroom at their grandmother’s house.

Lee said lifeguards should be stationed at all beaches while a quick response plan needs to be set-up by the civil defence, Fire and Rescue Department, police and other bodies to handle drowning cases.

He called on the Government to amend laws in order to empower lifeguards and allow them to take necessary action against those who do not heed warnings.

A database with statistics and information on drowning cases should also be set up, he said.

“The database will assist the relevant authority to develop immediate and longterm measures to address the issue,” he said.

Lee said Selangor, Kedah and Pahang had the highest number of drownings with 75% of the cases involving children under the age of five.