Malaysia is interested to learn from Japan its experiences and know-how in managing natural disasters and reducing the risks of such calamities, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
In this regard, he said the government would be sending a team headed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) director-general Datuk Zaitun Ab Samad to learn from the experience of the Miyagi Prefecture in managing the tsunami disaster in the area.
"The experience is important as Malaysia has just formed NaDMA to act as a centre to handle national disasters and Miyagi Prefecture has offered our officers to be placed here for a specific period to gather experience.
"In my view, this is a good offer we should take up as we do not know when disaster will strike," Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, told Malaysian journalists after attending a briefing on efforts to rehabilitate and reconstruct the Miyagi Prefecture presented by Sendai Vice-Governor, Masahiro Wako on Monday.
Ahmad Zahid, who is on a five-day visit to Japan since Sunday, said the offer would give Malaysia a good opportunity to raise its preparedness to face any natural disaster.
In 2011, Miyagi Prefecture was hit by an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale and a huge tsunami resulted in the loss of lives as well as the destruction of infrastructure, including a nuclear power plant.
The Miyagi Prefecture also had the expertise and experience to manage tsunami victims, including relocating residents or rebuilding affected areas badly damaged in the disaster.
Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Disasters, said there were three elements Malaysia should learn from the Miyagi Prefecture.
Firstly, holistic long-term planning to avoid severe damages such as wave breakers, as well as deepening rivers at the upstream and the river mouth.
Secondly, long-term planning to house flood victims to avoid high cost while giving comfort to the victims.
Thirdly, the restructuring of disaster victims' employment income as found from the disaster.
On Monday, on the second day of his visit, Ahmad Zahid took the high speed train, Shinkasen, from Tokyo to Sendai located in Miyagi Prefecture.
During the journey, he was given a briefing on the high speed train technology by Shinkansen operator, East Japan Railway Company.
He also visited the Hiyoriyama Memorial Monument in Natori and saw the effects of tsunami and efforts to rebuild the area.
The incident which caused losses amounting to US$83 billion, took the lives of 15,894 people while 2,569 residents are still reported missing.
The World Bank estimated US$235 billion was needed to rebuild the prefecture.
Ahmad Zahid also spent time with Malaysian students studying in Tohoku University in Sendai.
Bernama
Mon May 30 2016
![Malaysia keen to learn disaster management from Japan Malaysia keen to learn disaster management from Japan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-05/71464622256_ZahidHamidi.jpg)
Ahmad Zahid (second, left) with Masahiro (second, right) during the briefing on natural disasters in the Miyagi Prefecture on Monday. - BERNAMApic
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).