KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — The government is to implement the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Programme and develop a National Earthquake and Tsunami Sub-Centre in Sabah.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said RM60 million would be allocated under Budget 2016 for these two projects as part of the efforts to strengthen natural disaster management.

A sum of RM730 million would be provided for flood mitigation projects nationwide, he said when tabling Budget 2016 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Najib, who is also the finance minister, said RM180 million would be provided to strengthen natural disaster management, including for establishing the National Disaster Management Agency under the Prime Minister’s Department. 

The Prime Minister said Malaysia faced two major disasters over the past year or so, namely the massive floods at end-2014 and a major earthquake in Ranau, Sabah.  

If proactive measures are not taken, such disasters can cause huge losses amounting to billions of ringgit and, more importantly, the loss of lives, he said. — Bernama