PUTRAJAYA: The tsunami tragedy can strengthen commitment and connectivity among Asean countries and the region regarding the urgent need for coordination of continued efforts to reduce natural disaster risks, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In a statement today (Oct 25), Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said the tsunami has further emphasised the importance for stakeholders to enhance preparedness, resilience, mitigation and adaptability in facing disasters.
"Today, I attended the commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami and Asean Day for Disaster Management at Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, held after the 12th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM).
"This ceremony recalls the tragic memory of the tsunami that claimed over 230,000 lives in 14 countries and left a significant disaster impact on communities in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region," he said, adding that the event is highly significant as the 2004 tsunami reshaped methods for tackling and managing disaster risks.
At the ceremony, Ahmad Zahid was accompanied by Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei Datuk Mohd Aini Atan and National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) director-general Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus.
Prior to the ceremony, Ahmad Zahid and representatives from Asean member countries planted trees as a symbol of enduring recovery efforts and respect for the resilience of nature and affected communities.
Apart from the Malaysian delegation, the event was also attended by Brunei's Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Setia Awang Ahmaddin Abdul Rahman.
Brunei serves as the Chair for the 12th AMMDM, held over three days starting yesterday (Oct 24) with the theme "Building a Resilient Asean through Inclusive and Sustainable Disaster Recovery."
The meeting serves as a forum for exchanging views on various strategic and current issues, as well as discussing the progress and development of programmes under the Asean Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) 2021-2025.
Ahmad Zahid's participation in the 12th AMMDM reflects Malaysia's commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations with ASEAN countries and enhancing regional resilience against natural disasters while also fostering closer ties with Malaysians abroad. — BERNAMA