MIRI: The 2025 Air Disaster Tabletop Exercise has strengthened the level of preparedness among all participating departments and agencies.
Speaking at the programme’s opening ceremony held at the Sarawak Islamic Complex here yesterday (Sept 24), Miri Division Resident, Galong Luang, welcomed the initiative, emphasising that such exercises were crucial to ensure continuous coordination and communication among departments and agencies in terms of manpower and assets.
He said the exercise provided early exposure so that swift action could be taken in the event of any unforeseen disaster.
Galong stated that saving lives was the primary objective of this exercise, with the aim of building public confidence in the government’s ability to manage disasters in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) practiced by each participating department and agency.
“The 2025 Air Disaster Tabletop Exercise was participated by 21 departments and agencies, including the Miri Resident’s Office, Air Accident Investigation Bureau (BSKU), Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), Royal Malaysia Police, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM),”it said through a press statement by Sarawak Information Department (JAPEN).
Other participating bodies were the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), Department of Information Malaysia (JAPEN), Malaysian Meteorological Department, Department of Agriculture, Raya Airways, Malaysian Red Crescent, Malaysia Airlines Group (MAG), AirAsia, Shell Depot, PETRONAS Depot, Hornbill Skyways, Malaysia Airports (MASB), and the Miri Airport Police Station.
“This year, the exercise also included the Brunei Darussalam Fire and Rescue Department as an observer,” it said.
“In addition to this tabletop exercise, a Full-Scale Air Disaster Exercise will be held on 25 September 2025 (Thursday) at Miri Airport. Both the Tabletop and Full-Scale Exercises are jointly organised by the Miri Resident’s Office and Malaysia Airports,” it added.
The programme was attended by Miri Airport AFRS Chief of Service, Abi Sarwan Abu Bakar, Air Accident Inspector, Khairulnizam Jamaludin, as well as heads and representatives of the involved departments and agencies.
