Chieng (in yellow) being briefed on the disaster management exercise during the launch in Sibu.
Relevant agencies need to instil greater public awareness of the impact of natural disasters, says an elected representative in Sarawak.
Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng said Sibu Civil Defence Force (APM) statistics showed that the number of natural disasters in Sibu, Kanowit and Selangau increased from 2022 to June 2024.
This data, said Chieng, included storm, floods, landslides, fires and droughts.
“There were 33 disaster incidents recorded in 2022 and 36 in 2023.
“From January to June 2024, a total of 38 incidents have been reported,” he said at the launch of the Sibu Division Table-Top Disaster Management Exercise 2024 in Sibu, Sarawak.
“I believe that education and exposure are important because ‘prevention is better than to cure’,” he said.
Chieng said the old ways of disaster management were no longer useful because it had become harder to predict the occurrence of natural events.
He said there was a need to keep up with the times and technological changes.
“I call on all agencies involved in disaster management in Sibu Division to strengthen risk assessment and management so that negative impacts can be reduced.
“Disaster risk management is very important to help advance planning as well as identify alternatives,” he said.
Citing the northeast monsoon which occurs every year as an example, he stressed that it usually resulted in floods and landslides.
He said effective communication was key for better disaster management response mechanism to enable fast action in saving lives and reducing damage.
Sibu Division Resident Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman said the exercise was jointly organised by the Sibu Division disaster management committee and the Fire and Rescue Department.
The programme aimed to prepare all agencies for natural disasters and improve officers’ ability in handling these occurrences in their respective jurisdiction.
