Cabinet approves water safety council

According the Statistics Department, a yearly average of 596 people died from drowning between 2009 and 2013. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 6, 2016.

The Cabinet meeting today approved the setting up of the Water Activities Safety Council (MKAA), said Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was very concerned about the increasing fatalities involving water activities and wanted priority given to tackling the problem.

"With the setting up of this council, it is hoped deaths due to drowning can be reduced when the people become more aware on the importance of safety when engaging in water activities," he said in a statement today.

He said according the Statistics Department, the average number of deaths due to drowning yearly from 2009 to 2013 was 596, and an analysis of data showed on average two people died daily due to drowning.

Locations with the highest number of casualties were rivers and irrigation canals at 57%, followed by beaches (25%), lakes and mining ponds (12%)

Children formed the highest number of casualties at almost 50%.

MKAA will be chaired by the urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister with the members made up of representatives from government agencies, non-governmental organisations and also the private sector.

The council will be assisted by an executive committee chaired by the secretary-general of the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry and supported by a special committee.

Abdul Rahman added that the Fire and Rescue Department which comes under his ministry would play a key role in increasing awareness among the public on the importance of water safety.

He said based on the Fire and Rescue Department's statistics, Sarawak had the highest number of drowning cases from 2012 to 2015 at 218 cases, followed by Selangor (142 cases) and Sabah (136 cases).

In Seremban, Malaysian Civil Defence Department director-general Ogu Salim Omar said the department would form emergency rescue teams which would be stationed at popular water recreation spots to render assistance in cases like drowning.

Speaking to reporters after launching one such team at the Hutan Lipur Ulu Bendul water recreation spot in Kuala Pilah, he said the teams, made up of four to six members, would be deployed during weekends, school holidays and public holidays. – Bernama