Shah Alam,  23 August 2019 – The Selangor State Government, a group of researchers from the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Center (DPPC) of the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University, City of Sendai, Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) launched a publication on landslide and flood risks in the state of Selangor that was officially handed over to YAB Tuan Amirudin bin Shari, Chief Minister of the State of Selangor.

Called “Disaster Risk Report: Understanding Landslide and Flood Risks for Science-Based Disaster Risk Reduction in the State of Selangor”, the publication explains the science behind landslide and flood events so that local authorities, community leaders, and the community at large can better understand the risks they are facing. With this understanding, they can take action towards better preparedness or mitigation measures from the effects of landslide and flood disasters.

Replete with simplified technical explanations and illustrations, the Report shows how the outputs of science-based analysis such as hazard maps can serve as a decision making tool that allows local governments and community members to better understand their disaster risks and come up with their own preventive actions.

This Report is the first output of a four-year program run by Selangor State, IRIDeS and DPPC/MJIIT called “Strengthening the Disaster Risk Reduction Capacity to Improve the Safety and Security of Communities by Understanding Disaster Risks (SeDAR)”

The SeDAR program enables the sharing and transferring of the knowledge, know-how, and expertise of IRIDeS based on Japanese experience to local community leaders and residents in Malaysia to better prepare for and cope with disasters. DPPC used technical expertise and local knowledge of the project, while Selangor Disaster Management Unit carried out the outreach activities to bring this knowledge and understanding to the people of Selangor.