MALAYSIAI.

Natural hazards in Malaysia

1.1 Natural hazards likely to affect the country
Wind storm, epidemic, wave surge, slides, floods, drought, wild fires
1.2 Recent major disasters
year2004
2005
2004
2005
2004
2004

dis_subset
Flood
Flash Flood
TsunamiWild Fires
Storm
Storm

killed injured total_affected dam (US ‘000s)
13015000
40600
80767
5063
14600
―
000―
001000―1040000

Source: "EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database,www.em-dat.net - Université catholique de Louvain - Brussels Belgium"
At 0059 GMT on 26 December 2004, a magnitude 9.3 earthquake rippedapart the seafloor off the coast of northwest Sumatra, Indonesia with theepicenter at latitude 3.10N and longitude 95.50E. The earthquake
occurred 680 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur. This unprecedented
tsunami had killed hundred thousands of people and destroyed massive
value of properties in several countries bordering the Indian Ocean
including Malaysia.
Relief efforts were deployed by various government agencies such as
Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department,
Malaysian Armed Forces, Welfare Department as well as Non
Governmental Organizations (NGOs), among others. During this period,
the government collected up to RM78.95 million from generous people ofMalaysia (from the government sector, private sector, non-government
bodies and individual) for National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF). From
the NDRF, the government spent RM51.3 million for post tsunami
recovery and reconstruction exercise.
II.

Disaster Management system

2.1 Administrative system
Conventional long form:
none
Conventional short form: Malaysia
Government type
constitutional monarchy

Source: ADRC country reportCapital:Administrative divisions:

Kuala Lumpur
13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri)with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur,Labuan, and Putrajaya

2.2 Legal system, legal framework
The National Security Council (NSC) Directive No. 20 states themechanism on the management of disasters including theresponsibilities and functions of the various agencies under an
integrated emergency management system. The directive states thatwhen a disaster occurs, The Disaster Management and Relief Committee
have to be established at three different levels depending on the severityof the disaster, i.e. at the Federal, State and District. The committee atthe Federal level is chaired by the Minister appointed by the PrimeMinister, where the most recently was chaired by Malaysia’s DeputyPremier. The State level is chaired by State Secretary while the Districtlevel is chaired by District Officer, whereby the NSD is the secretariat at
each level. Being the Secretariat, NSD is responsible in coordinating all
forms of disaster relief efforts as well as monitoring the progress anddevelopment of these efforts.
2.3 Structure of disaster management
The National Security Division (NSD) in the Prime Minister’s
Department is responsible for coordination of all activities related todisaster.
Disaster Management And Relief Committee carries out theresponsibilities of the NSC in coordinating all the activities related todisaster management. The Disaster Management and Relief Committee
was established at three different levels, i.e. at the Federal, State andDistrict levels, whereby the NSD is the Secretariat. The main functionsof the Disaster Management and Relief Committee (DMRC) are as
follows:
Federal level, DMRC is responsible in the formulation of national polices
and strategies regarding the alertness and the preparation of various
agencies involved in the handling of disasters.
DMRCs at the State and District levels are required to implement
policies and strategies as follows:ensure sound coordination among the agencies involved in thehandling of disasters and determine the roles of the principal
emergency services (Police, Medical and Fire Department) and othersupporting services;activate the Disaster Operation Control Centre at District, State orSource: ADRC country reportFederal Level whenever required;coordinate and mobilize resources and logistics available from
Government agencies and if necessary also from the private sector;

coordinate assistance and rehabilitation to disaster victims; andcarry out “post mortem” and report upon completion of the disaster
operations for the purpose of recording and performance evaluation
for future reference and planning.

Other organizational arrangements:
On-Scene Control Post (OSCP)An On-Scene Control Post (OSCP) will be opened immediately as soon as
disaster has occurred. The On-Scene Commander will be either theOCPD, CPO, or the Director, Internal Security and Public Order Royal
Malaysia Police, depending on the level of disaster. The main functionsof the On-Scene Commander are as follows:To make an early assessment at the scene of potential or actual
disaster and immediately activate OSCP if deemed necessary.
To identify the equipment and logistic requirement in handlingthe disaster.
To coordinate the functions of various agencies involved in searchand rescue operation.
To report and advise the Disaster Management and Relief
Committee at their respective level.

Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance And Rescue Team (SMART) wasestablished in 1995(NSC Directive No.19). It is responsible to theDirector, Crisis and Disaster Management Unit, NSD. SMART
comprises of 85 officers and personnel from the Fire and Rescue
Department, Royal Malaysia Police and The Armed Forces. The Team isequipped with specialized skills and equipment’s to respond to any
search and rescue operation in any major disaster on land which isbeyond the capabilities of the existing principal emergency services
Search and Rescue (SAR) teams. The team members were trained in
SAR training institutions abroad such as the USA, Sweden, Australiaand Singapore. The decision on the mobilization and the deployment ofthe SMART team is made by the Director, General of the NSD or theDirector, Crisis and Disaster Management Unit.
Malaysian Meteorological Service (MMS) provides information andwarning occurrences and adverse weather phenomena to the general

Source: ADRC country reportpublic through the mass media or to other government agencies directly
involved in disaster mitigation. A Central Forecasting Office has been
established in the Meteorological. Headquarters to monitor closely theweather and sea conditions over the Malaysian region.
Drainage And Irrigation Department Of Malaysia (DID) takes charge of :flood Control Measures, coordinate flood relief operations at federal,state and district levels in coordination with the National Disaster
Management and Relief Committee in 1997, implementation ofstructural flood mitigation measures, provision of flood forecasting andwarning services, and flood forecasting and warning services (FFW).
Social Welfare Department is the main organization in charge of disaster
relief and rehabilitation works (NSC Directive No. 20 on Policy andMechanism of Disaster Management and Relief)
2.4 Priorities on disaster risk management
1. Risk and Vulnerability Analysis
Such analysis should be mandatory in the appraisal of all
development projects. Pilot risk mapping projects and hazard andvulnerability analysis should be conducted at the micro-level using
where appropriate, Geographic Information System (GIS) andRemote Sensing (RS) technology.
2. Non-Structural Mitigation Measures
1) Disaster Management System
The need to strengthen national disaster management
organizational structures and support them with soundadministrative, financial arrangements and assets mobilization.
2) Training
To increase in training activities in the country throughinternational support and cooperation by multilateral andbilateral organization, NGO’s and others. Also to undertake
training programmes for core disasters management personnel aswell as supporting personnel in order to enhance disastercoordination and response.
3) Public AwarenessThe need for more sustained public awareness programs directed
at local communities in disaster prone areas through international
cooperation and assistance.
4) Forecasting And Warning Systems
The need to improve in the methods and technology of warning
system for flood, landslides and forest fire.

Source: ADRC country report5) Hazard Mapping
The need to improve hazard mapping at macro and micro level.
3. Structural Mitigation Measures
The need to implement structural mitigation measures in bothengineered and non-engineered structures, such as landslide
control measures, river embankments and etc. International
cooperation in the transfer of knowledge and expertise in thestructural measures could greatly improve disaster reduction
system in the country.
III.

Disaster management plan

National DM Strategy of Malaysia
Mission: To advance national disaster management through effective
coordination and integrated approach in the building of a culture ofprevention, protection/public safety in the community.
Vision: A safe environment for the community through disastermanagement and sustainable development in the 21st century.
Main Components
A. Development. Reduce the risk of the community from disasters
through continuing development of disaster management
capabilities in mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
B. Partnership. Establish a national approach to disastermanagement through coordinated and integrated system
involving multi-agency and sectoral commitment in the respective
level of government administration and NGOs.
C. Education and Training. Develop and promote disastermanagement education and training for officials of related
agencies and community for effective enhancement of disaster
handling and awarenessD. Community Awareness. Develop a national approach to fosteringand enhancing the community’s awareness of risks, and encourage
involvement in prevention /mitigation, preparedness, response
and recovery strategy.
E. Civil Protection/Public Safety. Promote and support thedevelopment of a Malaysian Civil Protection /Public Safety
capability and durability that is responsive to threats of hazards
and disasters.
F. International Cooperation. Promote and develop international
cooperation networking for exchanging, sharing and training on
disaster management as well as cooperating in rendering andreceiving of disaster assistance.

Source: ADRC country report

IV.

Budget size on national levelAlthough, there is no specific budget that was allocated for any
particular disaster risk reduction, nevertheless, disaster risk reduction
efforts are done by respective agencies within the government’s
machinery where they are experts at. For example, Malaysian Centrefor Remote Sensing (MACRES) had established the National Disaster
Data and Information Management (NADDI) while the National
Tsunami Early Warning System was commissioned by the Malaysian
Meteorological Department and the Stormwater Management and Road
Tunnel (SMART) project, which functions as a Flood Diversion Channelor Tunnel, was developed by Malaysian Drainage and Irrigation
Department. On the other hand, National Disaster Relief Fund under
the NSD has been set up by the government in channeling the funds
needed in disaster relief efforts. The Malaysian government has set aside
a sum of RM50 million per year for this fund.
V.

Progress and situations of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)“Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilienceof Nations and Communities to Disasters” has been documented in UN
World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) at Hyogo Japan onJanuary 2005. Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction had been held inBeijing, China on September 2005 to facilitate the implementation ofHFA among Asian regions. Malaysia has just adopted the HFA in theNational Disaster and Fund Management Committee Meeting onNovember 2005 during the National Disaster and Relief Management
Committee Meeting chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister. Malaysia is
still in the phase of restructuring, reorganizing the disaster management
system to fit in the HFA. Malaysia is also in the phase of enhancing thecoordination of responsibility between the government bodies in terms ofdisaster management system.
VI.

Projects on disaster reduction headed by Ministry

The National Disaster Data and Information Management System(NADDI) is coordinated by NSD and MACRES. The objective of NADDI
is to establish a central system for collecting, storing, processing,analyzing, and disseminating value-added data and information to
support the relevant agencies in the mitigation and relief activities ofdisaster management in the country. NADDI emphasizes on theutilization of remote sensing technologies, Geographical Information
System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies toprovide up-to-date and reliable data to support the three components ofdisaster management, that are, (i) early warning, (ii) detection andmonitoring, and (iii) mitigation and relief for pre, during and post

Source: ADRC country reportdisaster management activities coordinated by NSD and implemented byrelevant authorities.
After the Asian Tsunami in Dec 2004, Malaysian Tsunami Early
Warning System was developed by Malaysian Meteorological
Department. It involves three technologically advanced weather waterbuoys to be deployed at locations around Malaysia. All in all, including
the equipments, tsunami analysis modeling system and dissemination
components will cost about RM19 million.
The Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel also known as SMART
Project is being developed to alleviate flash flood problems in the city.
The 9.7 kilometers and 11.83 meters’ in diameter tunnel integrates bothstormwater management and motorway in the same tunnel.
VII.

ADRC Counterpart
Director of Crisis and Disaster Management Unit
National Security Division Prime Minister's Department
Level G, West Wing, Complex A, Prime Minister's Department
62502 Putrajaya, Selangor

Source: ADRC country report