I am very pleased to learn that one of the goals of this Conference
is to serve as a platform for the formation of a national coalition
of non-governmental organizations involved in the area of disaster
relief.
Providing a service to the unfortunate or to those in need is to
serve a noble cause, for this also builds on our Vision 2020 for
fostering a caring society. That is why I believe this National
Conference is very important to all of us.
It will be wrong to take a conference of this nature lightly just
because Malaysia does not suffer from devastating natural disasters
like earthquakes and and volcanic eruptions that our neighbors face
from tome to time.
We've had a fair share of natural and man-induced calamities, such
as the collapse of the Butterworth ferry jetty in 1998 that killed
32 people, the explosion at a Sungai Buluh fireworks factory tat
killed 22 people in 1991, the landslide-induced Highland Towers
collapse in 1993 which claimed 48 lives and the Typhoon Greg
disaster in Sabah in December 1996 that killed 230 people.
Malaysia is developing at a rapid pace and one of my concern is for
our environment. Landslides have been a frequent occurrence in our
country; therefore those who develop the land must ensure that our
environment is safe at all times.
On this occasion, I hope the discussion swill be fruitful. I must
add that the Organizing Committee and the Malaysian Humanitarian
Foundation has done a splendid job of putting this Conference and
exhibition together.
I also wish the coalition that will take form at the end of this
Conference all success in their work. You can count on the
Government for encouragement and support for your resource and
capacity-building strategies for post-disaster relief.
Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
