Managing catastrophes better

Thank you: Ahmad Zahid presenting an appreciation certificate to a representative from the Armed Forces at the event in Kuala Lumpur. Also present are (from left) Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad, Nadma director-general Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus, JPS director-general Datuk Ir Dr Ahmad Anuar Othman and JPAM director-general Datuk Aminuruddin Mohamed. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has agreed to review the National Disaster Management Policy to further enhance the country’s ability in managing catastrophes, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) is working on the recommendations and is in the final stages of reviewing the policy and mechanism of disaster management under National Security Council’s Order No. 20.

This would be in line with the requirement to handle more complex situations in disaster management, he added.

“As it is the main guide in the coordination and handling of national disasters, this will further fortify the mechanism of managing disasters,” Ahmad Zahid said in a speech at the Northeast Monsoon Frontliners Appreciation event yesterday.

He also said a new policy called the National Disaster Risk Lowering Policy is in its final stages before being enacted.

“This policy will outline the country’s direction in becoming a nation that can withstand disasters in all sectors, including the economy and environment,” he said.

The expected rise in disasters due to factors such as adverse weather conditions could cause significant losses each year, he added.

Ahmad Zahid said the northeast monsoon season between November last year and March had affected 92,534 people from 27,505 families, adding that they were placed in 751 temporary relief centres.

This number, he said, was way lower than the 251,799 victims who were evacuated in 2022.

Ahmad Zahid said the effective management of the recent disaster was a result of the close cooperation of 61,839 personnel from the police, military, Fire and Rescue Department, Welfare Department, Civil Defence Force, Health Ministry and Rela.

The government, he said, had allocated RM11.8bil to undertake 33 high priority flood mitigation projects nationwide to minimise the risk of floods.

Ahmad Zahid said nine projects to develop permanent disaster evacuation centres with better facilities at a cost of RM45mil is being undertaken by the Public Works Department in Perak, Penang, Kedah, Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

He said the government had also agreed to allocate RM5mil from the National Disaster Relief Fund to agencies and non-governmental organisations to hold training as preparation for disasters and to raise community awareness.