A National Disaster Management Council is urgently needed to centralise Malaysia’s response to growing climate-related disasters, says Lee Lam Thye.
KUALA LUMPUR: The establishment of a National Disaster Management Council is urgently needed to provide centralised leadership for Malaysia’s growing climate-related disaster risks.
Alliance For A Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the country’s existing approach, focused on seasonal monsoon floods, is no longer adequate. “Today, Malaysia is facing intense rainfall events, flash floods in urban areas, landslides, coastal erosion, prolonged heatwaves, droughts, and forest fires,” he said in a statement.
He said these events often occur outside traditional monsoon periods and affect areas previously considered low-risk. This new reality demands a shift from fragmented, reactive responses to a coherent, forward-looking national strategy.
The proposed council should have a clear mandate to provide strategic direction, coordination, and oversight. Its role must go beyond emergency response to focus on disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and climate-informed planning.
“The council should formulate a national disaster risk and resilience strategy,” Lee said. This would ensure disaster risk considerations are integrated into development planning, land use policies, and infrastructure management.
He stressed that disaster preparedness must be treated as a national priority and a security issue, not merely a humanitarian concern. Given the growing impact of climate change, the council should lead comprehensive climate-related risk assessments.
It must also regularly update national hazard maps based on the latest scientific data and projections. Lee noted that past experience can no longer be relied upon as a guide for future disasters.
Effective disaster management also requires strong coordination across federal, state and local authorities. “A National Disaster Management Council would help eliminate duplication, address jurisdictional gaps and ensure clear command structures during emergencies,” he said.
Greater emphasis must be placed on preparedness, prevention and transparency in disaster-related spending. The council should also play a critical role in oversight and accountability.
It should conduct post-disaster reviews to identify weaknesses, draw lessons, and improve future responses. “Transparency in disaster-related spending and aid distribution is essential to maintaining public trust,” Lee emphasised.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proposed establishing the council as the highest authority for coordinating disaster management on Thursday.
