COMMENT | Enhancing Malaysia’s early warning system to save lives

COMMENT | The Yang di-Pertuan Agong issued a decree for the Environment and Water Ministry to accord priority to Malaysia’s disaster early warning system, effective coordination between the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and other agencies, and the process of distributing aid and assistance to the people, in the nation’s preparation for floods forecasted from October 2022 to March 2023.

These areas of concern were raised by His Majesty during the king’s visit to the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (PRABN) during a briefing on the year-end weather and flood situation which included the presentation of data, preparations and a list of flood hotspots by Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) and the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia)

The continuous alerts by MetMalaysia for Malaysians to brace for these stormy weathers offer a grim reminder of the deadliest tropical cyclone-related disaster to hit Malaysia from Dec 17-19, 2021 with the highest death toll of 54 persons in Malaysia’s flood history.

The lack of an early warning system (EWS) and delayed rescue efforts were cited as factors for these deaths and destructions.

In the aftermath of the December 2021 disaster, the rakyat had observed news reporting conflicting statements of complaints of lack of EWS by the public and the responses from the government stating warnings were given but ignored.

These observations and remarks reflect a sad but sorry state of information disseminated which may not have reached a large group of citizens due to limitations in communication channels as well lack of awareness of the public on how to react and respond to these alerts contributing to many being caught unaware and several tragically perished in the floods.

Thus Agong’s decree to accord priority to several critical areas including Malaysia’s disaster EWS indeed comes at a most crucial moment when the country is making preparations to face the floods already impacting several states and Kuala Lumpur and with the November 2022 flood expected to be worst in recent years.

Agong visiting the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre

EWS - global overview

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) defines EWS as an integrated system of hazard monitoring, forecasting and prediction, disaster risk assessment, communication and preparedness activities systems and processes that enable individuals...