PUTRAJAYA: The government has formally approved the establishment of the National Disaster Management Council to streamline the country’s emergency response strategies, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said the council is designed to foster closer integration between federal and state authorities.
In a significant move to ensure nationwide representation, he said the council’s permanent membership will include all Mentris Besar, Chief Ministers and the Premier of Sarawak.
Speaking at a press conference following the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Fahmi confirmed that the National Disaster Management Agency has been appointed as the council’s official secretariat.
“The Cabinet deliberated and decided upon the establishment of the council with all Mentris Besar, Chief Ministers and the Premier of Sarawak as permanent members.
“Meetings will be convened immediately following the conclusion of the periodic Mentri Besar and Chief Ministers’ conference,” he said.
Beyond domestic governance, Fahmi also addressed the Cabinet’s discussions regarding the international geopolitical situation, specifically the recently announced two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
While the Malaysian government welcomed the temporary cessation of hostilities, Fahmi warned of the lingering economic shadows cast by the conflict.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim briefed the Cabinet on the 10-point plan from Iran and the 15-point plan from the United States, expressing hope that the two-week window would allow for a finalised peace agreement.
However, he cautioned that the damage to global energy infrastructure would not be rectified overnight.
“It is crucial for Malaysians to understand that even with this temporary peace, we continue to feel the impact of the conflict due to the damage caused to energy ecosystems and infrastructure in the Gulf states,” he said.
Fahmi said the Cabinet and the Economic Action Council have been informed that repairing storage tanks, pipelines and processing facilities could take months to several years.
Furthermore, he said logistical bottlenecks remain a primary concern for global supply chains.
“We have been informed that while the Strait of Hormuz typically sees over 200 ships daily, approximately 2,000 vessels currently remain standed there.
“Whether these ships can be released shortly will still take time.
“Movements in the strait and open oceans are slow. These are massive vessels carrying highly flammable fuel, so their journey is inherently time-consuming,” he added.
Fahmi also said the government’s immediate priority remained the security of domestic supplies to shield the Malaysian public from further external volatility.
