DPM: Flood awareness must be increased
KEMAMAN: Despite having gone through past experiences of losing lives and being stranded, the people’s awareness about floods is still not up to par.
In saying this, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that on a scale of one to 10, he would rate the awareness level as five.
“The awareness level must be increased. The public should be well prepared for any eventuality and adhere to evacuation orders.
“They should cast aside their wait-and-see attitude, take up an active role instead of leaving everything to the authorities.
“In the case of Nadma (National Disaster Agency) and other agencies such as the Civil Defence, police, Fire and Rescue Department, army, air force and Rela, they are all 100% ready,” he said after launching the 2016 National Preparedness Month here yesterday.
Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also Nadma chairman, said these agencies have done a good job over the years and in terms of allocations, the Federal Government had set aside enough funds for purchase of assets during operations.
He said the aim of the programme was to create awareness and inculcate the culture of being ready during disasters, especially floods.
Earlier in his speech, Dr Ahmad Zahid urged those living in floodprone areas to monitor the weather forecast and warnings issued by the Meteorological Department.
“This is the right attitude which will enable us to be prepared for any eventuality, including evacuation,” he said.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said the “Kemaman Template” was now used as an example for the entire nation and had received international recognition.
“In 2013 and 2014, Kemaman was badly hit by floods. Many properties were damaged.
“But last year, by using this template, damages were minimised and victims were evacuated early,” he said.
National Security Council chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, in his speech, said Nadma was using a new approach of evacuating victims before a flood occurred.
Shahidan said countries like Japan only used about 10 boats to monitor the situation and not for the purpose of evacuating residents.
“This is what we want. Residents can be evacuated early so that they are safe and minimum assets are needed to be deployed out during floods,” he said.