KEMAMAN: Bitter lessons learnt from past mistakes, especially when it comes to floods, have prompted Malaysia to formulate a solid natural disaster management plan – now recognised as one of the best in the world.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Kemaman flood management system has won a prize at the World Summit on the Information Society Forum in Geneva in May this year.
He said the Kemaman template, which has received global attention, could be used in other flood-prone states during the year-end monsoon season.
“As we are dealing with natural disaster, preparedness should always be made our way of life.
“The National Disaster Management Agency is therefore here to create awareness on the possible risks during a disaster and help the people be more prepared than ever when facing disasters.
“If we are more prepared, we will be swifter in mobilising our resources and shifting our assets to critical areas during a disaster,” he told reporters after opening the National Preparedness Month in Chukai here today.
October has been proclaimed as the National Preparedness Month on Aug 12.
Kemaman is the chosen district for the programme launch as it was among one of the worst hit districts during the 2013 flood.
The estuaries of both Sungai Kemaman and Sungai Chukai are in close proximity, making Kemaman more prone to flood, especially in the coastal areas.