Teach students to survive disasters, says MP

Tumpat MP Mumtaz Md Nawi says students should learn practical skills to cope with disasters and emergencies.

Tumpat MP Mumtaz Nawi warned that Malaysia could experience extreme heat between February and May 2027, with temperatures potentially exceeding 41°C. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

A PAS MP has called for survival and resilience education to be introduced in schools, higher education institutions and communities to better prepare Malaysians for disasters and emergencies.

Mumtaz Nawi (PN-Tumpat) said practical survival skills should be incorporated into the education syllabus, particularly as Malaysia braces for a possible Super El Niño phenomenon next year.

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, she warned that Malaysia could experience extreme heat between February and May 2027, with temperatures potentially exceeding 41°C.

She said the proposed syllabus should equip Malaysians with practical skills to handle emergencies rather than focus solely on theoretical knowledge.

“It should cover disaster preparedness beyond floods, including extreme heat, first aid, financial management during crises, cybersecurity emergencies, and disruptions to water, food and energy supplies,” she said.

Mumtaz also cited Japan and the Philippines as examples of countries that had taken steps to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience.

She called for a comprehensive climate preparedness framework, including a climate map and calendar, to improve Malaysia’s ability to respond to the growing risks posed by climate change.

The meteorological department previously forecast scorching weather between March and May next year due to the Super El Niño phenomenon, which could see temperatures surpass Malaysia’s record high of 40.1°C.

Its director-general, Hisham Anip, said an analysis of the current El Niño phenomenon, combined with the effects of climate change and global warming, suggested that temperatures could exceed 41°C.

He said the department was also working with the health ministry to develop a heat index to establish thresholds for warning the public about health risks associated with hot weather. - FMT