Study on National Disaster Management Bill to be completed within 12 months

A study on the proposed National Disaster Management Bill, also known as the Disaster Risk Reduction Act, is set to be finished within 12 months, according to Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Nadma, the agency responsible for the study, will examine the findings and recommendations before the bill is finalized, in consultation with relevant ministries and agencies.

The timeline for tabling the bill in the Dewan Rakyat has not been set yet, as the current process requires further review of the need for and appropriate form of the legislative framework. Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, responded to a question from Zahir Hassan (PH-Wangsa Maju) about the latest developments in drafting the bill.

The study's findings will be crucial for Nadma in determining strategies to strengthen disaster governance, focusing on prevention, risk reduction, and community and nation resilience. The government aims to create a bill that is specifically tailored to the country's disaster management needs, rather than hastily enacting a new law without addressing existing gaps.

This approach aligns with the nation's disaster management strategy, which prioritizes science-, data-, and technology-based preparedness, early action, early warning systems, clear command structures, and swift, coordinated responses.