One panel to steer crises
Zahid proposes a council to streamline disaster planning and relief
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has proposed a National Disaster Management Council to be the country’s highest body on disaster management and risk reduction.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that during any crisis, all information must come from a verified source to ensure proper coordination.
“For instance, in coordinating information, there should only be one spokesperson or source. Or else there will be conflicting information. We are not asking to consolidate more power but to coordinate everything.
“That is why I would like to propose the formation of the council as the highest body responsible for coordinating disaster management and risk reduction,” he said in a New Year address to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) personnel here yesterday.
To implement the proposal, he directed Nadma to prepare a Cabinet paper within one month.
“You need to distribute it to the respective ministries and ministers to get their feedback before I table it in the Cabinet,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also wanted Nadma to set a new benchmark in national disaster management for managing the ongoing northeast monsoon.
“In my view, early preparations initiated through the Central Disaster Management Committee (JPBP) meeting, followed by consistent coordination at the field level, have proven that cross-ministerial, departmental, agency and state government cooperation is important,” he said, adding that this had reduced delays, minimised confusion and accelerated response during critical situations.
He cited the Bantuan Wang Ihsan via electronic fund transfer method as another game changer in disaster management, with funds distributed directly to victims.
Ahmad Zahid said this was made possible through a cross-functional approach with Bank Simpanan Nasional, supported by a digital system via the
MYIBJKM application developed by the Welfare Department.
“This approach has significantly transformed victims’ experience, from a process that previously required a waiting period of between three and six months. Payment is made while the flood victims are still in the temporary evacuation centres,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also outlined three strategic directions for strengthening disaster management – science- and data-driven preparedness; rapid and disciplined coordination; and compassionate, people-centred humanitarian action – to guide Nadma towards greater resilience and
public trust.
“Disaster management must move beyond institutional reliance by leveraging big data, predictive analytics and integrated weather, geospatial and social risk information, strengthening smart early warning systems, and adopting anticipatory action so responses occur before disasters strike rather than after damage happens,” he said.