Malaysia should establish a unified air disaster management system that enables all agencies to share the same operational picture, receive consistent instructions and respond simultaneously during emergencies, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
Speaking at the opening of the National Air Disaster Preparedness 2026: Air Disaster Management Workshop, Zahid said the principle of “one system, one command and one action” should form the foundation of the country’s disaster management framework to ensure faster and more effective emergency responses.
He stressed that Malaysia could not afford to wait until a real crisis occurred to find out whether communication channels, command structures and inter-agency coordination were effective.
“In managing an air disaster, we cannot operate as separate agencies. When a crisis happens, we must respond as one national team with a single, clear objective of saving lives and restoring order as quickly as possible,” he said.
Also present at the event were Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) Director-General Datuk Meor Ismail Meor Akim, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) chairman Tan Sri Dr Azmil Khalid and MAHB Group Managing Director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani.
Zahid said the strength of a disaster management system should not be measured by the number of assets or personnel available, but by how effectively resources from different agencies could be coordinated under pressure.
He called for the development of a system that allows all responding agencies to view the same real-time information, understand the same instructions and act at the same time. According to him, an effective disaster management system must function not only on paper but also during high-pressure situations when information changes rapidly and decisions must be made within minutes.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the two-day workshop would allow participating agencies to test existing procedures, evaluate communication systems, clarify operational roles and assess the country’s overall preparedness for air disaster scenarios.
He outlined four key priorities for the workshop: strengthening the chain of command and decision-making process, improving information sharing and integrated communication among agencies, expanding realistic scenario-based training in various locations including difficult-to-access areas, and accelerating the digitalisation of disaster management.
Zahid said the government would continue supporting efforts to enhance disaster preparedness through stronger policies, better coordination and capacity building across all relevant agencies.
Highlighting the importance of aviation safety, he said the sector was not merely an operational issue but a strategic national asset that connects people, drives trade, attracts investment and supports Malaysia’s tourism industry.
He noted that Malaysia welcomed 42.2 million international visitors last year, generating RM110.6 billion in tourism revenue, while domestic tourism spending reached RM121.3 billion. He added that investing in disaster preparedness was essential to protecting lives, maintaining international confidence in Malaysia and ensuring the aviation sector continued contributing to the country’s economic growth.
More than 100 representatives from government ministries, enforcement and emergency agencies, airlines, airport operators and other aviation industry stakeholders are participating in the workshop, which runs until Tuesday.
