SHAH ALAM, AUGUST 23: The Selangor State Government, in collaboration with Tohoku University of Japan, launches the “Disaster Risk Report: Understanding Landslide and Flood Risks for Science-Based Disaster Risk Reduction in the State of Selangor”, which is the first to introduce science-based disaster risk reduction in the country.

The Executive Councillor for the Environment, Green Technology, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and Consumer Affairs, the Honorable Hee Loy Sian said that a total of 2,000 copies of the Report would be distributed to local authorities, government agencies and universities as a reference for them to share with communities on disaster risk.

He said that through the Report, everyone could understand the risks of natural disasters for preparedness and mitigation.

“The first program in the country is aimed at providing knowledge and skills to local governments and community leaders to carry out disaster risk reduction programs in their communities.”

“The program promotes community involvement in understanding the risks of disasters based on science,” he said.

He said this at the Report Handover Ceremony by Tohoku University to the Selangor State Government at the Shah Alam Convention Centre.

According to the Honorable Hee, the four areas under study were four areas under study were in Hulu Klang, Hulu Langat, Kapar and Gombak.

He said the report was the first of a four-year program run by the State Government, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur and Tohoku University’s ‘International Research Institute of Disaster Science’.

“Throughout the program, UTM KL contributed technical expertise and local knowledge on project risk areas while the Selangor Disaster Management Unit conducted outreach activities to provide the knowledge and understanding to the people of Selangor,” he said.

At the same time, he said, the initiative was in line with Smart Selangor’s idea of better service delivery across multiple domains, including smart disaster management.

“We have successfully set up a Selangor Disaster Management Unit with an efficient and effective secretariat, coordination and disaster management team at the state level.

“With a program involving RM2.8 million in funding from the ‘Japan International Cooperation Agency’, we can now increase our capacity to better manage disaster risk,” he said.