Malaysian disaster management officials and experts visit the Disaster Prevention and Rural Development achievements in the Huashan Community - Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, MOA

Professor Khamarrul Azahari from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) led a delegation of 33 members, including representatives from Malaysian government agencies, academia, and enterprises, on a visit to the Huashan Community and Debris Flow Mitigation Demonstration Area in Gukeng Township, Yunlin County, on November 13. The delegation aimed to gain in-depth insights into Taiwan's achievements in slopeland disaster management and rural development. This visit was part of the Disaster Risk Management and Resilience, a collaboration between the Disaster Prevention Education Center (DPEC) at National Cheng Kung University and the Disaster Prevention and Management Center (DPPC) at UTM. The course aims to promote Taiwan's disaster prevention technologies and experiences and further deepen Taiwan-Malaysia cooperation in disaster risk management.

During the visit, the delegation was introduced to key initiatives in rural development, soil and water conservation, and slopeland disaster prevention, as well as the post-disaster reconstruction experience of the Huashan Community. They also participated in hands-on activities such as a DIY coffee roasting experience. We introduced debris flow mitigation projects, fixed and mobile debris flow monitoring stations, and the establishment of disaster prevention community systems. The guests highly praised Taiwan's early warning, monitoring, and response mechanisms for slopeland disasters, and engaged in lively discussions on topics such as evacuation and post-disaster recovery.

Although Malaysia has already introduced a slopeland disaster monitoring system in collaboration with Japan, the high maintenance and operational costs due to technical transfer issues have been a challenge. As a result, Malaysia is seeking more cost-effective technological solutions. Following initial discussions, we reached a consensus on potential cooperation and explored the possibility of signing a cooperation agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The goal is to facilitate technical exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and Malaysia, further promoting bilateral collaboration in the field of disaster prevention and management.