PM: Review disaster plan
The Star – 7 Feb. 2006
The country’s natural disaster plan is outdated and needs to be reviewed, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.  
“It’s about time we do some review because our emergency plans to face any eventuality are outdated,” the Prime Minister said when addressing the monthly gathering of the Prime Minister’s Department here yesterday.   
“Among aspects that should be looked into are involvement of non-governmental organisations, and weaknesses in terms of payment.  
“The relevant agencies should sit down and look into the current plan and make the necessary changes according to the present needs and situations.   
“If there are sections of the plan that need fine tuning and review, submit a proposal so that we can look into it.”   Abdullah said the plan should not be lacking in any way as it was meant to help the public in times of disaster, and added that a weak disaster plan should not be the reason for poor assistance.  
The Prime Minister drove home the message that he did not want implementation agencies to use the Ninth Malaysia Plan – which is yet to be tabled – as an excuse to delay government projects, particularly projects and programmes slated under the Eighth Malaysia Plan.  Abdullah said all projects sanctioned under the Eighth Plan must be completed according to the schedule fixed by the agencies.  
“There should not be any delay. Monitor the projects and ensure that they are on schedule,” he said.   
“We do not want to kick off Ninth Malaysia Plan projects when projects under the previous Plan are delayed.”   
Abdullah, who is also Finance Minister, is expected to table the Ninth Plan, which will chart the nation’s direction from 2006 to 2010, in Parliament on March 31.  
He said the Government was awaiting feedback on whether projects proposed under the Ninth Malaysia Plan would be acceptable to the people. The Prime Minister also reminded civil servants of the importance of an effective public delivery system, as this determined the development and progress of Government-initiated projects.  
He said an effective and efficient public delivery system was important to ensure the smooth running of services so there would not be any hitches and delays in government and private sector-initiated projects. 
Source: The Star | http://thestar.com.my