TPM announces setting up of NADMA to coordinate management of national disaster

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today announced the setting up of the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to coordinate government agencies in tackling disasters.

Ahmad Zahid said NADMA, which was operating for the first time in the current flood season, was not taking over the roles of the agencies, but was set up to ensure all assistance to flood victims were channeled more effectively and orderly.

"NADMA is set up not to take over the functions of the other agencies, such as the Malaysian Armed Forces, police, Malaysian Civil Defence Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Rela, Social Welfare Department, but to manage and coordinate efforts against disasters in the country.

"So, other agencies need not be stingy in lending boats or other assets because all that are being done is for the welfare of the people who are affected by disasters including floods," he said.

He said this to reporters after an official visit to the flood relief centres at the Seberang Tayor, Air Puteh Felda Multi-purpose Hall here, today.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who is also Kemaman Member of Parliament.

The centre housed 286 people from 66 families from Felda Seberang Tayor, but was expected to be closed this evening as the flood was starting to recede.

Commenting further, Ahmad Zahid said, NADMA, which was set up following a Cabinet meeting and was placed under the Prime Minister's Department, underwent an innovation by conducting pre-registration for victims at flood-prone areas.

The action was seen as helping to ease the problem of congestions and red tape in the preparation of relief centres, prior to this.

At the same time, Ahmad Zahid also praised Kemaman for introducing a flood insurance coverage scheme which would enable a victim to be compensated up to RM1,000 by paying a premium of only RM70.

He said the payment, including RM20 contributed by the government, could help ease the burden of the victims who suffered losses from the floods.

"The introduction of the coverage is the best approach and we will adopt it for flood victims nationwide," he said.

"NADMA has invited several companies to submit their proposals and working papers to the Cabinet for approval," he said.

To date, two insurance companies had expressed their agreement to cooperate with the government in the matter.

During the ceremony, he also handed over insurance cheques to 15 Village Development and Security Committee chairmen from around Kemaman.