Risky society, chaotic life: Disaster management laws timely?

When disaster strikes communities are disrupted, lives are lost, properties wrecked and the socio-economic fabric of societies are tossed into havoc. Assistance may pour in, but effective regulations to govern the chaotic conditions are necessary to coordinate efforts by different organizations to cooperate, giving them authority to render assistance to help the community to recover. Malaysia has had its share of disasters not only brought on by the forces of nature, but also suffered disasters caused by man´s relentless race towards a more progressive society. In Malaysia, disasters are managed under National Security Council Directive No. 20, an ad hoc administrative order issued from the Prime Minister´s Department, involving the Fire and Rescue Services, the Royal Malaysian Police and the Armed Forces and other supporting agencies established under federal, State and district levels. This paper which is drawn from an ongoing research on the laws relating to disaster management, attempts to examine the necessity of a more comprehensive central legal framework in integrating the various organizations to reduce the risk of disasters within the country. This involves, amongst others, an examination of the National Security Council Directive No. 20, and also legislations such as the Fire Services Act 1988 that provides the Fire and Rescue Department with legal powers to take part in all types of rescues. A comparative analysis with the Hyogo Framework 2005–2015 and the legal position in South Africa and Australia is elucidated, which would provide some lessons for Malaysia to learn and emulate in providing the legal framework with the necessary powers to effectively manage disasters. Also, the broader context of risks in the modern contemporary society, the theoretical notions underlying such risks and the need for the creation of disaster management teams at the international and local levels are illuminated.