KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must strengthen its safety culture and move away from reacting to accidents and tragedies in favour of a more proactive, prevention-focused approach, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said the recent spate of tragic incidents involving road accidents, drownings and people getting lost or injured during outdoor recreational activities highlighted the need for greater public awareness and responsibility.
He said despite numerous awareness campaigns, safety programmes and enforcement measures, many Malaysians continue to take unnecessary risks, disregard safety precautions and underestimate everyday dangers.
"Whether it is driving on our roads, swimming at waterfalls, enjoying water recreational activities or trekking in forests and mountainous areas, safety must never be taken for granted.
"We must move away from a culture of reacting to accidents and tragedies towards a culture of prevention.
"We should not wait for lives to be lost before taking action or introducing corrective measures," he said when contacted on Thursday (Nov 12).
Lee said safety education should be made a national priority, beginning from childhood and incorporated into the education system, workplaces and community programmes.
He said children and young people must be taught to identify potential risks, make responsible decisions and understand the importance of protecting their own lives and those of others.
He also called for stronger enforcement and accountability, stressing that safety regulations involving road use, water activities and outdoor recreation must be consistently enforced.
Those organising recreational activities, he added, must ensure proper risk assessments, adequate safety arrangements and emergency preparedness.
Lee said individuals also had to take greater personal responsibility by practising safe driving, obeying warning signs and ensuring they are adequately prepared before hiking or other outdoor activities.
He stressed that the authorities should continuously review and improve safety infrastructure, warning systems, rescue capabilities and emergency response arrangements, particularly at waterfalls, rivers, hiking trails and other recreational locations.
Lee also urged community organisations, non-governmental organisations, schools, employers, parents and the private sector to work together in promoting safety awareness.
He said the authorities must adopt a preventive approach by identifying potential hazards, conducting regular safety audits and addressing risks before accidents occur.
"Lessons from every tragedy must be properly investigated and translated into meaningful preventive action," he said.
Lee said building a stronger safety culture needs a fundamental change in mindset, attitudes and behaviour, with safety becoming a shared value rather than merely compliance with rules and regulations.
He said Malaysians should develop a mindset where unnecessary risks are avoided, safety warnings respected and individuals look out for one another.
"Our national aspiration should be to achieve zero preventable accidents and zero avoidable loss of life, whether on our roads, in our workplaces, in our communities, or during recreational activities.
"Let us make safety not just a slogan, but a national mindset. Let us embrace a safety culture and make safety a way of life in Malaysia," he said.
