The Effects of 2004 Tsunami and the Transformative Adaptation of Disaster Management in Malaysia

The research examines the transformative effects of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami on the Malaysian government’s disaster management structure and mechanism and on affected local communities in Penang Island. Was 2004 tsunami the catalyst for transformative adaptation in disaster management mechanism? The thesis explores how the government responded to the tsunami by evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the response. It also provides a review of how this experience affected the government’s disaster response services that led to drastic change to the existing disaster management mechanism. The thesis also focuses on the transformative effect of the tsunami on a specific government agency, in this case, the National Security Council (NSC) as the main coordinating agency for disaster management in Malaysia to accommodate the feedback and reaction of affected local communities, as well as better prepared for emergencies and disasters in the future. The thesis also discusses on the technical reforms and transformative adaptation introduced in the aftermath of the tsunami and changes to standard operating procedures, emergency drills, early warning systems, and amendment of National Security Council (NSC) Directive No. 20. The thesis explains and discuss the reaction of affected local communities to the government’s response and recovery programmes, and speculates on the possible indirect effects on politics in these communities, as illustrated by election results and based on my observation as the Penang State Security Secretary responsible for coordinating disaster response. This research uses the case study approach and applies mixed research methods, both quantitative and qualitative, and the case study areas are from Tanjung Bungah, Batu Feringhi, Teluk Bahang and Kuala Sungai Pinang. The transformative adaptation took place in policy (in the amendment of NSC Directive No. 20 and the formulation of new SOP’s for tsunamis), structure (setting up a new National Disaster Management Agency-NADMA), laws (Disaster Management Bill), rules and regulations (embedding disaster risk reduction in the development planning) and technical (establishing a new Malaysia Tsunami Early Warning System). The tsunami also has indirect political effects in the case study areas.