Wan Mohd Nor (left), Minister Embassy of Japan to Malaysia, Mr. Hiroyuki Orikasa (second, left), director of the National Research Institute of Fire and Disaster Management Agency Tokiyoshi Yamada (second, right) and assistant director-general of Fire and Rescue Training Division Putrajaya Muhammad Hamdan Wahid (right) during the opening of Japan-Malaysia International Forum on Fire and Disaster Management. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: The Disaster Information Management System (DIMS) pilot project undertaken by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) with the cooperation of Fujitsu Ltd and Japan’s Ministry of Communications to provide early warning of disasters is now entering the second phase.
Nadma Operations Implementation Sector deputy director-general Zainal Azman Abu Seman said the first phase of the project using the Japanese technology was implemented in Kota Bharu, Kelantan in October last year.
“Malaysia already has disaster control centres nationwide, but they were not equipped with the latest technology.
“The DIMS financed by Fujitsu Ltd and Japan’s Ministry of Communications, with cooperation from Nadma, is capable of providing early warning of disasters, such as flood,” he told reporters at the Japan-Malaysia International Forum here yesterday.
Zainal Azman said the cost of implementation of the first and second phases of DIMS was estimated at RM200,000 and the system would be expanded nationwide if proven effective.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director-general Datuk Seri Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said 78 JBPM personnel were sent to Japan every year since 2014 to undergo a two-week training on disaster management.
“Japan has vast experience in tackling natural disasters, such as earthquake, typhoon and even tsunami, that we can learn from,” he said.
Wan Mohd Nor added that the cooperation was also aimed at strengthening the bilateral ties between Malaysia and Japan. — Bernama