KUALA LUMPUR: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recommended the establishment of a National Water Safety Council in an effort to help the government address the increasing number of deaths by drowning in the country.
NIOSH chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the council would among others promote water safety awareness in a holistic and comprehensive way to include all levels of society, in addition to introducing water safety standards.
He said the proposal was conveyed to Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan recently.
“There is a need for Malaysia to focus on the number of drowning cases in the country which is becoming increasingly worrying, happening at beaches, disused mines, rivers, waterfalls and swimming pools, he said in a statement yesterday.
Lee said through the council, swimming and basic emergency life saving skills would be promoted as living skills especially among children. — Bernama