A YEAR-LONG study will be conducted to determine whether Malaysia needs a dedicated law on disaster risk reduction, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
He said the findings would guide the future direction of national disaster management, including the development of an appropriate legal framework and the possible introduction of a Disaster Risk Reduction Act.
The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) has been tasked with conducting the study and will coordinate with the relevant ministries and agencies before the proposed policy and legislation are finalised, he added.
“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,” he said in a written parliamentary reply.
Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, said the findings would provide an important basis for Nadma to determine how to strengthen national disaster governance, particularly in prevention, risk reduction and enhancing the resilience of communities and the country.
He was responding to Zahir Hassan (PH-Wangsa Maju), who asked for the latest developments in drafting the proposed National Disaster Management Bill.
Ahmad Zahid said the government was taking a measured approach to ensure that the form and scope of any proposed legislation suited the country’s disaster management needs, rather than introducing 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 added.
Ahmad Zahid said no date had been set for the tabling of the National Disaster Management Bill, as the government was still reviewing the need for an appropriate 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.
