KUALA LUMPUR: The government is conducting a baseline study on the establishment of a Disaster Risk Reduction Act, with the findings expected to help determine the appropriate legal framework for national disaster management, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the study was expected to be completed within 12 months.
He added that the findings and recommendations of the study, conducted by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), would be reviewed and coordinated with the relevant ministries and agencies before the proposed policy and legislation were finalised.
“The study aims to assess the effectiveness of existing legal frameworks and mechanisms and identify gaps in disaster risk reduction governance.
“It will also examine the need to improve or amend existing legislation and assess the need for a specific act on disaster risk reduction, among others.
“The findings of the study will serve as an important basis for Nadma in determining the direction of efforts to strengthen national disaster governance, particularly in prevention, risk reduction and enhancing the resilience of communities and the country,” he said in a written parliamentary reply on Monday (Oct 26).
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, was responding to a question from Zahir Hassan (PH-Wangsa Maju), who wanted to know the latest developments in the drafting of the National Disaster Management Bill.
He said the government was taking an approach to ensure the form and scope of any proposed legislation were suited to the country's disaster management needs, rather than simply enacting new laws without first identifying gaps in the existing framework.
“This approach is also in line with the country's disaster management direction, which emphasises science, data and technology-based preparedness, early action, early warning systems, clear command structures, as well as rapid and coordinated responses,” he said.
On the timeline for tabling the National Disaster Management Bill in the Dewan Rakyat, Ahmad Zahid said no date had been set as the government is still reviewing the need for an appropriate form of the legal framework.
“Once the study is finalised, its findings and recommendations will be reviewed and coordinated with the relevant ministries and agencies before the policy and legislative proposals are finalised,” he said.
