Kerajaan perhalusi panduan penutupan sekolah

Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim convened the National Disaster Management Council meeting late yesterday, according to a Facebook post. The Malaysian government is considering enhancing the National Action Plan, with a focus on school closure guidelines, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated. The initial preparations by the Ministry of Education (KPM) are vital to ensure students' education is not compromised if schools are closed due to rains, he added.

Health authorities must prioritize children's health in battling the threat of rain, said Anwar, who said the contingency fund for awan operations would be allocated to reduce the daily threat of rain. Besides rain, the meeting also looked at the government's readiness to face the impending La Niña weather phenomenon, which could bring heavy rainfall and flood risks.

The government acknowledged the Super El Nino phenomenon's forecast of hot and dry weather for next year, urging heightened readiness among front-line agencies to handle any potential disaster. Nadma (National Disaster Management Agency) must be strengthened as the basic coordination hub and cross-agency operational center through the National Disaster Operations Control Center, Anwar emphasized.

"This ensures prompt and effective prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery steps. All sectors, including the federal and state governments, private sector, volunteers, and the public, must work together to strengthen community readiness. The people's lives must be protected, and aid must reach those in need immediately," he added.