Cabinet to decide on water safety council in January
Cabinet will decide on the proposal for a Water Safety Council in January next year, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan said today.
"I expect the cabinet paper on Water Safety Council to be tabled in the cabinet by January 2016 for its approval," he said in a press statement.
He related that this followed discussion between him, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairperson Lee Lam Thye and Life Saving Society of Malaysia president Lim Chi'en Cheng.
According to Rahman, a cabinet paper was drafted based on the discussion, with input from Niosh, the related government agencies, private sector organisations as well as NGO.
The paper was then circulated among the relevant ministries and departments for their inputs and comments.
"In general, these relevant ministries and departments are supportive of the establishment of a Water Safety Council with the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry as the focal point to coordinate programmes, activities and information relevant to water safety awareness and early warning systems," he added.
Rahman posited that the proposed council can serve as a regular platform for the relevant government agencies as well as private sector organisations and NGOs to discuss on matters concerning water safety issues, be it recreational, sports, transportation, occupational or in the home.
The concern over drowning deaths rose to national prominence in the aftermath of recent tragedies, including the latest tragedy in Bukit Belukar Waterfall which claimed five in a family of six, leaving the surviving son, severely traumatised.
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