PUCHONG, Dec 15 — The National Disaster Management Policy has been streamlined by roping in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with expertise to strengthen national disaster management, said Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) said this approach would provide for a more comprehensive disaster management through the Community-Oriented Disaster Risk Management module.
“The role of NGOs will be officially incorporated in this document which will serve as a guide and reference for tackling flood disaster,” he told a press conference after meeting an NGO, Rakan Nadma, and visiting the National Disaster Control Centre (NDCC) at Smart headquarters in Pulau Meranti here today.
Armizan said the enhanced policy would serve as the main policy for work initiatives by all agencies and parties involved in disaster management.
Asked on the National Disaster Management Agency’s (Nadma) alleged failure to manage floods in Selangor last year, Armizan said this responsibility should be jointly shouldered by the relevant quarters and not just Nadma.
In this connection, a Nadma-led simulation exercise to handle floods would be held to prepare for the second wave of north-east monsoon flooding which was expected to hit on December 17.
“There may be a written guide but without conducting simulation all will panic when it strikes,” he added.
Armizan said 12,097 flood victims from 3,344 families had been evacuated to 162 relief centres throughout the country as of yesterday since the start of the north-east monsoon.
“This number is expected to increase following the second wave, which will bring the phenomenon of persistent heavy rains, choppy seas and strong winds,” he said. — Bernama
