THE Penang Secretariat Office Disaster Management Unit, in collaboration with the Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), conducted the first-ever tabletop exercise to prepare the state in the event of any eventuality.
A total of 36 heads and officers from various agencies and departments attended the programme which focused on air crash disaster management at the Evergreen Laurel Hotel in Gurney Drive today.
Penang Deputy Secretary (management) Datuk Ahmad Rizal Mohd Hanapiah said the exercise was to test the preparedness of various state departments and agencies when facing the air crash disaster.
“This is the first tabletop exercise that was jointly organised by the state Secretariat Office Disaster Management Unit and MAHB.
“The objective is to better prepare every state agency, department and District and Land Office in crisis management to handle the air crash disaster effectively.
“It is also to better improve the communication and cooperation between every state agency, department and District and Land Offices when facing a such crisis.
“Through this tabletop exercise, we can identify the strengths and weaknesses in every state agency and department so that we can, later on, take appropriate measures to address them.
“Lastly, I hope all state agencies and departments that have participated in the tabletop exercise today will greatly benefit from it,” Ahmad Rizal said in his speech before officiating the programme today.
Also present were the state Communications Division director and Chief Minister’s press secretary Yap Lee Ying and Penang Financial Officer Zabidah Safar, who is also the state Disaster Management Committee chairman.
Ahmad Rizal added that the state Secretariat Office Disaster Management Unit planned to hold an air crash disaster simulation exercise at the Penang International Airport (PIA) soon.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Alissala Thian