DISASTERS, many would argue, are becoming more commonplace. Between the natural and man-made ones, there are enough worldwide to keep the media well-stocked. In Malaysia, too, the frequency is increasing. Not too long ago, we had the Sabah earthquake, then there were the floods that hit the east coast states, the landslides and even a tsunami back in 2004. Of course, the collapse of Highland Towers in 1993 was a disaster that shocked the country and the death toll at 48 was tragic. It was followed by the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide in 2008 which killed four people. Another major catastrophe was the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over war-torn eastern Ukraine a year ago, where more than 200 lives were lost. More recently, the death camps in Perlis, where mass graves were found. The common denominator in all these disasters are the remains of victims that require identification. According to experts, Malaysia is not equipped to mobilise a Disaster Victims Identification (DVI) set-up quickly.
This inability to mobilise instantly, as soon as a disaster occurs, is what worries the experts when, in effect, the country has the necessary-trained manpower equipped with pertinent expertise. Unfortunately, currently they are scattered in different government departments and agencies, and the red tape of bureaucracy equates with delay when getting them together. Bosses are not wont to release them without letters of invitation from the requesting government agency. Not an unexpected obstacle given the nature of bureaucracies that not only go by the book but also insist on the letter of the book. Towards eliminating the delays, a DVI team is proposed to bring the different skills together, which includes a whole gamut of expertise not merely in pathology and forensic identification like fingerprint matching, odontology and DNA analysis, but also management and logistical know-how indicating the complexity of the undertaking. Is it any wonder then that a ready-to-go team is a need and not a luxury?
Some may think the need for such urgency is unnecessary given that the subjects of the investigation are deceased. Others may be of the opinion that the infrequent occurrence of disasters does not warrant the setting up of a team that will be more dormant than active. But as the MH17 tragedy demonstrated, the quick mobilisation of a dedicated DVI team, perpetually on the ready, by the Netherlands was especially useful. The victims were quickly identified, most needed in the heat of summer, allowing for quick burial, thus alleviating the pain of grieving families and friends. As important is the coordination effort which without a team can mean disarray. And, because the National Security Council is the body responsible for search-and-rescue in the country during a disaster, its presence in the DVI team is essential to lead representatives of related ministries and agencies. How best it is to be organised is yet to be determined to optimise its effectiveness, but the suggestion is that a pro-tem committee be set up to serve as a nucleus. What the final form the team takes will surely be dictated by its substantive character: accurate, quick and efficient.