Sarawak State Disaster Command Centre upgraded to strengthen response

KUCHING (April 2): The Sarawak State Disaster Command Centre (SDCC) has been upgraded with modern facilities and advanced technology to enhance disaster monitoring and response across the state.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the upgrading works were carried out over the past few months with enhancements including the installation of monitoring screens, computers as well as a more modern and efficient operating system to strengthen overall disaster management capabilities.

“This upgrade was made possible through assistance from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), which contributed RM750,000 for the project.

“I am confident that with the completion of this upgraded State Disaster Command Centre, we will be more effective in managing any disasters that may occur throughout Sarawak,” he told a press conference at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here.

Uggah, who is State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, said the upgraded centre would function as a centralised hub to ensure that only verified and accurate information is disseminated to the public.

“(Nadma director-general) Tuan Meor Ismail mentioned earlier that all information disseminated will be verified through this command centre to ensure that it is accurate and reliable.

“In today’s environment, there is a lot of unverified information being shared, especially during disasters. With this centre, we can ensure that only accurate information is communicated,” he said.

Earlier at the handover ceremony of the SDCC upgrading project from Nadma to JPBN, Uggah said one of the main challenges in disaster management in Sarawak was predicting the timing and location of floods due to the state’s vast geography and numerous high-risk areas.

He said such uncertainty made it difficult to deploy personnel, machinery and assets in advance to the right locations, citing the 2023 flood in Selangau, where boats prepared for deployment were not stationed in the affected area.

In this regard, Uggah expressed hope that the federal government could assist in providing more accurate forecasts and earlier warnings to enable better preparation.

He added that the Sarawak government is also working with higher learning institutions to leverage science and technology in strengthening disaster prediction capabilities, in line with practices in developed countries.

Also present at the ceremony were Nadma director-general Meor Ismail Meor Akim and Deputy State Secretary (Administration) Datu Felicia Tan.