The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is developing a system that will alert the public to natural disasters through their mobile phones.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said he had instructed MCMC to study methods of sending alerts to mobile phones in a location without using SMS.

He said South Korea and Japan had such a system to alert their people to earthquakes, tsunamis and missing persons.

“We see this as something that can benefit us. We will study it and streamline it with the National Disaster Management Agency.

“I have just liaised with MCMC on this. They are studying it and hope to finalise it within a month,” he said.

Fahmi was speaking after officiating at the Kuala Lumpur Civil Defence Force’s Kampung Siaga 221: Disaster Resilient Community programme in Kampung Pasir Baru here yesterday.

Present was deputy Civil Defence Force (management) chief commissioner Datuk Ismail Mohd Zawawi.

Fahmi said the programme was a collaboration between the Civil Defence Force and the Kampung Pasir Baru Residents’ Association in disaster preparedness.

“I’m pleased because after residents here experienced floods in 2021 and 2022, they came up with plans to prepare for future situations.

“I hope that this programme can bring about awareness on the need to prepare for disasters,” he said.