KUCHING: A Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) delegation led by Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, has visited Tokyo to enhance Sarawak’s disaster preparedness, response and resilience.
The delegation visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), where they learned how one of the world’s largest metropolitan administrations coordinates response efforts across multiple agencies.
While at the Nippon Foundation, discussions highlighted the vital role of NGOs in disaster management, particularly in mobilising volunteers, distributing aid and supporting vulnerable communities.
The Foundation also stressed the importance of public-private partnerships and social innovation in strengthening disaster response and speeding up recovery efforts.
Fatimah said Japan’s disaster management model demonstrates that resilience is built through governance, innovation, education and community participation.
“From the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s coordination to the Nippon Foundation’s community-driven initiatives and the hands-on training at Rinkai Park, we have seen how different approaches come together, with the shared priority of saving lives.
“Therefore, Sarawak can adapt these lessons to strengthen our own disaster preparedness and management strategies,” she said.
Key takeaways from the mission include the need to strengthen public-private collaboration, foster continuous community education and integrate simulation-based training into disaster preparedness.
The visit concluded at the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, where the Sarawak delegates experienced hands-on simulations and training modules designed to prepare citizens for large-scale disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
Delegates included Datuk Mohamad Razi Sitam, Deputy Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development; Datuk Buckland Bangik, Deputy State Secretary and Deputy Chairman of SDMC; Abdul Wahab Rahim, Director of the Security and Enforcement Unit Sarawak and Secretary of SDMC; Nur Alina Abdullah, deputy permanent secretary of the Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development Ministry Deputy, Permanent Secretary; Semawi Mohamad, director of the Welfare Department; as well as senior officers from the Welfare Department.
