KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is Malaysia's delegation to the Eighth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Geneva on Wednesday (June 4) and Thursday (June 5).
Wisma Putra said, in a statement Wednesday, that Ahmad Zahid was accompanied by senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Deputy Prime Minister's Office and the National Disaster Management Agency.
"The Deputy Prime Minister was scheduled to deliver Malaysia's National Statement at the eighth GPDRR. He spoke at a ministerial roundtable session on the topic 'Safe Schools Now: Protecting Every Child from Disaster and Climate Risk'," it said.
Ahmad Zahid reiterated Malaysia's ongoing commitment to disaster management through initiatives such as the launch of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy, the implementation of the Safe School Programme and the Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, as well as the introduction of a Disaster Risk Reduction education programme, the statement added.
During his time in Geneva, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, was scheduled to meet Kamal Kishore, the United Nations assistant secretary-general and special representative of the secretary-general for disaster risk reduction.
"The meeting aimed to explore potential areas of collaboration between Malaysia and international partners on disaster risk management," the statement said.
The GPDRR serves as a platform for evaluating the progress made by United Nations member states in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
Malaysia is a founding member of this network and remains steadfast in its commitment to managing and pre-empting disasters in accordance with the 2030 National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy. – Bernama
