Pejuang's Jerlun MP, Mukhriz Mahathir, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Abdul Latiff Ahmad should resign as his briefing today on the December floods did not answer pertinent questions.
This comes as Abdul Latiff's briefing in the Dewan Rakyat today mainly covered the formation and functions of the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma).
"I was listening to the explanation of the minister in charge of Nadma and he merely explained about the history of its formation and not about what Nadma did during the recent flood disasters.
"If there are weaknesses, just admit it for the sake of transparency, and what will be done to overcome those weaknesses so that it will not be repeated.
"(The history of Nadma's formation) is not what we want to hear actually, I think it is more suitable for the minister to resign if he cannot bear this important responsibility," Mukhriz said during the special meeting in the Dewan Rakyat today to discuss the flood disasters last December.
Abdul Latiff's speech had covered the formation of Nadma, the issuance of National Security Council (NSC) Directive No 20, the roles of various different agencies based on the types of disasters as well as the levels of disaster management, among others.
He also said the government is mulling establishing Nadma at the state and district levels, which is in line with the cabinet's decision on Dec 22, 2021, to review the current structure of Nadma to strengthen its role as the country's disaster management agency.
"The matter is being studied by Nadma as well as the Prime Minister's Department and the Public Service Department," he said.
Nadma has also taken the initiative to strengthen the disaster risk reduction (DRR) management through the formulation of a DRR policy, he said.
"Increasing investment in implementing DRR initiatives in terms of human resource capacity, institutional empowerment, expansion of mitigation measures, application of technology and intensifying national preparedness measures.
"Nadma is also in the midst of drafting a Disaster Management Bill which, among others, will cover aspects of governance, enforcement, preparedness, DRR, response, rehabilitation and redevelopment," Abdul Latiff said.
The National Disaster Command Centre would also be strengthened by taking into account the need for dynamic, accurate and fast information management, which will facilitate the planning, implementation of operations, provision of assistance, early rehabilitation and redevelopment.
"Among the matters that will be given focus is ensuring that disaster-related data from various agencies are standardised, up to date and have impact forecasting and demand sensing features to assist in decision making," he said. - Mkini
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