PUTRAJAYA, Jan 16 (Bernama) — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today announced the setting up of the National Centre for Excellence in Research to focus on aspects of disaster management.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said the provision of a RM20-million fund, could be requested by institutes of higher learning through the Long Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS) and Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) specially for flood mitigation and management research.
“It is hoped the outcome of studies to be conducted can contribute to enhancing disaster management in the country,” he said when delivering the 2015 Education Ministry’s annual message at Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here Friday.
Also present were Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, deputy ministers Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching and P Kamalanathan as well as the ministry’s secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamed.
Muhyiddin said incidents of landslides, haze and floods that frequently occurred in the country needed an effective and comprehensive approach and made the field of disaster management increasingly important.
He said among matters that needed to be exploited by academicians were environmental management aspect, coordinated assistance, communication and rebuilding of areas affected by the disasters.
If disaster management could be done well, many lives could be saved besides avoiding billions of ringgit in losses due to damaged infrastructure and properties, he said.
Hence, he suggested that local universities focus on environmental conservation and sustainable development studies to encourage future economic progress and well-being of people affected as a result of natural resources not being properly managed.
“The time has come to realign national development approach by looking at environmental conservation as an important factor in ensuring sustainable economic progress and well-being of the people in future,” he said.
As such, universities with expertise in the field were encouraged to conduct high impact studies that focused on environmental management, green technology production, creation of renewable energy, environmental friendly architecture and hydrology, he said.
Muhyiddin also announced the establishment of the Malaysian Inclusivity, Development and Advancement Institute (Minda) in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) to conduct special studies to address issues on social and economic inequality in the community.
He said the institute would give priority to issues relating to economic development that was inclusive and narrow the income gap.
“I believe economic growth alone is insufficeint to make Malaysia a developed nation without instilling human value, social justice and equality in society.
“In this context, the income gap that still exists in our country must be addressed effectively to ensure Malaysia continues to be stable and harmonious,” he said.
Hence, the deputy prime minister hoped educational institutes in the country could play an important role in ensuring the national economic growth is accompanied by a fair and equitable distribution of wealth.
— BERNAMA
