UMT, Met Dept ink deal to upgrade tsunami alter system
UNIVERSITI Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Malaysian Meteorological Department to upgrade the warning system and dissemination of information related to storm and tsunami disaster.
UMT vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Nor Aieni Mokhtar said the collaboration was to build a comprehensive system in providing latest information on sea conditions.
“This collaboration involves the sharing of atmospheric and oceanographic data in the waters of the South China Sea.
“The project hopes to channel information more effectively to the South China Sea coast communities in the event of a storm disaster so that proactive measures can be taken immediately.
“This information and data are also seen as a contributing factor to the setting up of guidelines and formulation of policy by related agencies in the future,” said Nor Aieni, at the signing ceremony held at the university in Kuala Terengganu.
The ceremony saw Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general Alui Bahari signed on behalf of the government, and Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change, and witnessed by Meteorology Department Research and Technical Development Division director Ambun Dindang and UMT Oceanographic and Environmental Institute director Associate Professor Dr. Aidy @ Mohamed Shawal M. Muslim.
“UMT has worked closely with the Malaysian Meteorological Department since 2017 in the development of the Ocean Forecasting System (OFS) project.
“Today, UMT once again has build synergies in an effort to create a system in dissemination of information in regards to temperature, current and wave forecasts.
“Hopefully with the success development of this project, the collected data can be channeled to other relevant agencies and used in various application platforms that benefit the fisheries, oil and gas, and tourism industries.