| It’s befitting that the issue of disaster | | | | , held in June 2007, at the heels of natural |
| management was highlighted at the recent 35th | | | | disasters which befall Myanmar and the |
| UNESCO general conference in Paris since it | | | | People’s Republic of China, he called for |
| served as one ideal platform to remind the world | | | | collective action, with initiatives for the former |
| community of the challenges which natural | | | | spear-headed by ASEAN ( Association of |
| disasters posed and the consequences of inaction. | | | | South-East Asian Nations). Datuk Najib subscribed |
| It’s noteworthy that the Malaysian Prime | | | | to the idea that disaster risk should be taken |
| Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took the | | | | seriously and the severity of natural disasters |
| mantle to sound the clarion for collective action on | | | | impact on lives and livelihoods as well as the |
| managing natural disasters. There has been | | | | development of nations could no longer be ignored |
| numerous wake-up calls given by various quarters | | | | and. Grounded as an economist, he recognized |
| notably international aid agencies, disaster | | | | that marginal investment in incorporating hazard |
| management institutions and practitioners, yet it | | | | resistance could have protected property and |
| somehow got lost in the milieu of challenges and | | | | assets. Without appropriate mitigating measures, |
| issues at hand. Inclusion of climate change and | | | | development achieved over years of investment |
| disaster management in his keynote address at | | | | could be completely wiped out in a natural |
| the conference was timely and opportune coming | | | | disaster. Acknowledging that vulnerability rest with |
| in the wake of the string of natural disasters | | | | the communities at the ground level, building |
| which affected some Asian countries. | | | | effectiveness of disaster management at the |
| The call to action was clearly intimated when he | | | | community level was of utmost importance since |
| stated that “We have to | | | | local needs and risks could be adequately |
| manage some of the natural disasters that | | | | assessed and managed. Highlighting disaster risk |
| occur in our regions” prior to the conference. | | | | reduction measures, he placed emphasis on |
| (i) His thrust on climate change and in the same | | | | community based initiatives to minimize |
| spirit, disaster management, resonates well with | | | | vulnerabilities. He fully recognized the wider |
| those international agencies and institutions already | | | | collective responsibility of stakeholders and the |
| deeply involved in providing humanitarian | | | | importance of partnership in handling disaster risk |
| assistance to recent disasters in the region. At | | | | reduction. |
| the conference , the Malaysian Prime Minister | | | | At that stage he was already pronouncing |
| aptly drove home the point that climate change | | | | consideration to incorporatedisaster risk reduction |
| posed a major challenge to the present | | | | elements in new development plans and ensuring |
| generation and not just those in the distant future. | | | | community resilience in facing natural hazards. |
| Its impact was clearly illustrated through the | | | | Integrating disaster risk reduction into plans, |
| recent experience with major natural disasters | | | | programmes, and development projects together |
| and catastrophes, including the earthquake in | | | | with developing or modifying policies, laws, and |
| Padang, Indonesia, tsunami in Western Samoa, | | | | organizational arrangements are aspects which |
| hurricanes in the Philippines and the major floods in | | | | need to be undertaken, according to him. The |
| Southern India. These calamities remind us on | | | | negative economic implications on development |
| how fragile the world is, and how interdependent | | | | arising from natural disasters are enormous. Datuk |
| our world has become. (ii) | | | | Najib reiterated the Malaysian government’s |
| The emphasis is on sustaining the quality of life | | | | commitment to disaster risk reduction through |
| for mankind for future generations, and focussing | | | | continuing its efforts towards implementing the |
| on need for a strong global commitment and | | | | priority areas of the Hyogo Framework for |
| action to address the adverse effects of climate | | | | Action. In addressing disaster management, the |
| change. In essence, our survival rests on the | | | | Malaysian government since the 1990s had put |
| world community’s willingness to address | | | | into place policy, infrastructure and operational |
| disaster management challenges and related | | | | mechanisms to ensure coordination and |
| issues collectively and with concerted will. He has | | | | partnership with all pertinent stakeholders. |
| long recognized that countries beset with natural | | | | With human catastrophe resulting from natural |
| disasters should expedite steps to mitigate the | | | | disasters reaching similar level of conflict situations, |
| impact of disasters and with the increasing | | | | calamities certainly deserve collective attention |
| magnitude of calamities faced, it behooves | | | | and action. (iv) It’s hightime that |
| comprehensive collective action. It’s rare | | | | governments and the leadership take the lead in |
| indeed to see a leader showing a sustained and | | | | disaster management. It’s heartwarming |
| avid interest in disaster management and this is | | | | when leadership is perceived to grasp the |
| clearly reflected in Datuk Seri Najib’s | | | | elements and dynamics of disaster management |
| purposeful tabling of the issue at such forum. | | | | and taking a proactive stand. |
| Throughout his tenure as a Minister of Defence | | | | References:- |
| and Deputy Prime Minister, he has on several | | | | (i) BERNAMA. October 05, 2009. Najib To |
| occasions been on the forefront of promoting | | | | Raise Natural Disaster Issues At Unesco . Leslean |
| initiatives in that direction. In June 2006, during a | | | | Arshad. |
| high-level security forum in Singapore, Datuk Seri | | | | (ii) New Straits Times . Wednesday, October 07, |
| Najib Tun Razak called for the setting up of a | | | | 2009, 12.03 PM. Prime Minister’s speech at |
| regional based humanitarian relief centre to be | | | | the 35th Unesco General Conference in Paris. |
| mobilized in the event of disaster. | | | | (iii) The Star Online . The Star, June 4, 2006. |
| | | | | Malaysia calls for regional humanitarian relief centre. |
| The call for collective action on disaster | | | | (iv) The 7th IISS Asian Security Summit |
| management is not new. Yet, inititiatives in this | | | | Shangri-La Dialogue . Singapore. Sunday 1 June |
| area is seldom seen vested in the leadership nor | | | | 2007. Restoring Peace in Complex Emergencies. |
| governments. At the 7th Asian Security Summit | | | | |