The time to prepare for the next disaster is now

WHEN catastrophe strikes, it doesn’t check borders or timetables. It comes swiftly, sometimes in multiples.

Malaysia responded to two harrowing emergencies in just one week, each demanding fast action, coordination and resilience.

On March 31, a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, sending tremors across South-East Asia. Parts of Penang, Kedah and Perlis felt the distant rumble, sparking brief evacuations and public alarm.

Then, on April 2, a gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Selangor, triggered a blaze of staggering intensity.

At least 140 people were hospitalised for burns and smoke inhalation. The explosion caused widespread damage – 227 houses and 365 vehicles were reported damaged or destroyed.

In the wake of these disasters, Malaysia’s emergency response teams stepped up – showing the country what professionalism and courage look like in action.

In Putra Heights, firefighters battled searing heat and volatile gas lines. Hazmat crews moved quickly to contain further risks.

Medical personnel triaged and treated the injured on site, and civil defence teams assisted with evacuations.

Their swift response likely prevented what could have become a national tragedy. Amazingly, no lives were lost in this incident.

At the regional level, Malaysia’s SMART team (Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team) – our internationally certified urban search and rescue unit – swiftly mobilised for deployment in Myanmar.

Their readiness, alongside humanitarian NGOs like Mercy Malaysia, reflected Malaysia’s commitment to being a reliable neighbour in South-East Asia’s most trying moments.

These responses are not just commendable; they are heroic.

But they also raise a harder question we cannot avoid: Are we prepared for the next big disaster?

Malaysia is not immune to large-scale disasters. We sit near tectonic fault lines, face annual flooding and host ageing infrastructure interwoven with expanding industrial zones.

The Putra Heights explosion was a wake-up call.

The scale of damage in a quiet suburb underscores how much can go wrong and how quickly when combustible materials intersect with high-density living.

Disaster preparedness in Malaysia must go beyond reactive measures and ceremonial drills.

The Uniform Building By-Laws, last revised in 2021, mandate stricter safety standards, but enforcement remains inconsistent, especially in older developments and mixed-use zones.

Meanwhile, public awareness of emergency protocols is limited.

In many neighbourhoods, residents have no idea how to respond to a fire, a quake, or a chemical leak.

We need a national culture of readiness. Schools must conduct regular multihazard drills.

Local councils should map vulnerable zones – particularly those near utilities or industrial sites.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), already active in some rural areas, need to be scaled up nationwide with proper training and funding.

Equally crucial is sustained investment in Malaysia’s frontline responders.

The SMART team, Fire and Rescue Department, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, and frontline medical staff need more than just applause – they need upgraded equipment, trauma support, and the assurance that their missions are part of a broader, well-funded national safety strategy.

We don’t know when the next tremor, fire, or flood will strike but we know it will. And when it does, we will again rely on those extraordinary people who move toward danger while the rest of us seek shelter.

Let’s honour their courage with words, policy, preparedness and purpose because the next emergency is not a matter of if but when – and the time to prepare is now.