Water safety education should be introduced more systematically in schools and communities to help prevent drowning tragedies, while rescue and first-aid training should also be expanded among the public, said Safe Community Association (IKATAN) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
He said children should be taught about the risks of drowning, while members of the public should be equipped with basic knowledge on how to respond correctly during emergencies in or around water.
“Rescue skills and first-aid training should also be expanded to communities, especially those living near bodies of water and people who frequently visit recreational areas.
“We cannot simply act after a tragedy has occurred. Our approach must shift from response to prevention,” he said in a statement to BH today.
Lee was speaking following an incident involving four 16-year-old teenagers who were feared drowned after swimming at Tanjung Lompat Beach in Bandar Penawar, Johor.
Two of the victims were found by search and rescue (SAR) teams yesterday and the day before, while the search for the remaining two continued.
The incident was believed to have occurred after one of the teenagers was almost swept away, prompting a friend to attempt a rescue before both were believed to have drowned.
The victims who have been found were Muhammad Thaqif Rayyan Rumainoor and Alif Taqiuddin Kamal Hasrul, both 16, while Mohamad Haiman Fitri Supian and Muhammad Adib Hafiy Kamal remain missing.
Lee said every drowning incident should be used as an opportunity to assess not only accountability but also measures that could prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
“Human lives are too precious to be put at risk because of negligence, weaknesses in warning systems or a lack of awareness.
“Do not wait until more families lose their loved ones. Preventing drowning begins with awareness, vigilance and taking action before tragedy strikes,” he said.
He said the Johor tragedy should serve as a turning point for more structured and comprehensive efforts to make water safety part of the country’s wider safety culture.
Lee said serious efforts must be stepped up as drowning deaths continue to be reported, adding that the latest incident in Kota Tinggi should serve as a warning to authorities to improve safety measures for children playing around water, whether at pools, rivers or beaches.
“Drowning is not simply an accident, as many incidents can be prevented if prevention, monitoring and public awareness are given priority.
“Authorities should identify and map high-risk areas along rivers, waterfalls, rapids, lakes and beaches, particularly locations vulnerable to sudden floods and abrupt changes in water levels,” he said.
For high-risk areas, Lee said early warning systems should also be strengthened through clear warning signs, sirens or emergency notification systems, weather and water-level monitoring, as well as more effective procedures to close areas when conditions become unsafe.
He added that local authorities and recreational area operators should conduct regular safety audits and ensure exit routes, assembly points and rescue equipment are available and easily accessible during emergencies.
“Responsibility for safety cannot be placed solely on the Government. Parents and members of the public also have a major role to play.
“Parents are urged not to allow children to play or stay near rivers, waterfalls, lakes or the sea without close supervision.
“Never assume that calm-looking water means an area is safe,” he said.
