(Kuching, 17th) Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas met with retired US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Peter Gautier yesterday, with both sides focusing on discussing crisis and disaster management, especially response strategies for maritime emergencies.
During the meeting, both parties exchanged views on disaster and crisis management policies, including the transfer and adaptation of weather monitoring modeling technologies, as well as early warning and evacuation planning. The aim is to strengthen the disaster preparedness and response capabilities of Sarawak’s coastal and riverine communities.
The discussions also emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation, capacity building, and knowledge exchange. This covers training, technical support, and the sharing of best practices in emergency coordination, command, and control systems to enhance the state's disaster resilience.
As chairman of the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, Datuk Amar Douglas shared his experience in handling various disasters within the state, including floods, the COVID-19 pandemic, fires, and haze events. He pointed out that effective crisis management requires a combination of technology, training, and cross-agency collaboration.
At the same time, representatives from the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur introduced existing and potential cooperation programs, including areas such as education, communications, leadership development, and biodiversity.
During his visit to Sarawak, Rear Admiral Gautier also delivered a public lecture at the Sarawak State Library entitled "From Crisis to Cooperation: US Maritime Incident Management Case Studies," sharing experiences with local officials and the public.