PUCHONG: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has proposed establishing a National Disaster Management Council as the highest authority for coordinating disaster management and disaster risk reduction.
During a Jan 8, 2026 speech to National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) personnel, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised the importance of relying on verified sources of information during any crisis to ensure effective coordination.
He stated, "In coordinating information, there should be only one spokesperson or a single source. Otherwise, conflicting information may arise."
Ahmad Zahid expressed his desire to establish a council to oversee disaster management and risk reduction efforts. To facilitate this, he instructed Nadma to prepare a Cabinet paper for the proposal within one month.
He added, "You will need to distribute it to the relevant ministries and ministers to gather their feedback before I present it to the Cabinet."
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