My name is Lt. Col. (PA) Nurrul Azle bin Ab Jabar , and I currently serve as Assistant Director at the Force Management Department, Malaysia Civil Defense Force, a nd over the past five months (September 2025 ~ January 2026), I have had the privilege of participating in the Disaster Management Programme (DMP 2025) in Japan.
Through structured learning at the Disaster Management Training Center (DMTC), University of Tokyo , I was exposed to Japan’s integrated approach to disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, inter-agency coordination, and post-disaster recovery planning. Practical sessions, including simulations and the use of tools such as the Business Operation Support System (BOSS) , highlighted how decision-making is guided by clear thresholds, data-driven analysis, and well-rehearsed procedures. This insight directly informed my capstone project , where I focused on developing a District Flood Response Guide Handbook aligned to Malaysian district realities. It locally adapted SOPs, EWS-linked action triggers, risk-based flood profiling, clear coordination and communication flows , and practical checklists designed for use by MCDF officers and district agencies during real operations.
The objective of this project is to bridge the gap between national disaster management policy and actual field implementation by translating NADMA Directive No.1 into clear, district-focused operational guidance while the scope of the project concentrates on flood response at district level, with Mersing, Johor as a pilot area. It addresses key operational elements such as Early Warning System (EWS) monitoring, decision thresholds for PKOB activation, coordination between PKTK and PKOB, inter-agency roles, and structured reporting during flood incidents.
The goal is to improve consistency, speed, and discipline in flood response decision-making, particularly during rapidly evolving monsoon situations and the intended outcome is a clear operational reference that strengthens institutional memory, supports training and exercises, and enhances MCDF’s role as the secretariat to the District Disaster Management Committee and replicable framework which can scalable model for other districts.
For any inquiries, please contact me at the email address nurrulazle@civildefence.gov.my.
