Disaster management top priority: Shahidan

> Govt upgrading search and rescue methods

PUTRAJAYA: Disaster preparedness and management will continue to be top priorities of the government, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim.

He said the government was upgrading its search and rescue capabilities, and dealing with public safety issues, especially during major disasters.

“This is important as Asean countries had demonstrated unity by working as a team with the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, playing its role in coordinating humanitarian efforts in a fast and efficient way.

“This signifies the collective strength of Asean when responding to a disaster. I hope such collaboration can be extended to include other regions as well,” he said in his welcoming remarks at the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (Insarag) Asia Pacific Regional Meeting yesterday.

His speech was read by National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) directorgeneral Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun.

Malaysia is also hosting the Insarag Asia Pacific Regional Earthquake Response Exercise 2017, which involves 400 participants from 32 countries from Asean and the Asia Pacific represented by agencies from the urban search and rescue team, civil defence, fire services and medical teams among others. – Bernama

ASHRAF SHAMSUL/ THE SUN Abd Rashid (third right) with Head of Office OCHA Indonesia, Oliver Lacey-Hall (second right) mingling with Insarag meeting participants at Marriot Hotel, Putrajaya.