I REFER to the many calls for better safety measures at our Kuala Lumpur city’s rivers following the recent drowning of a teenager in Sungai Kerayong, near the Taman Maluri LRT station, as reported in the newspapers recently.
A recent Streets check revealed the need for better fencing and more safety measures at our rivers to prevent needless deaths.
Based on my observation, many of our rivers and disused mining ponds are easily accessible because of a lack of safety signs and fences and children play in the water without a thought for their safety.
What concerns me are the frequent deaths by drowning, not only in KL but in other parts of the country, which warrant the attention of the authorities, especially during school holidays.
The Fire and Rescue Department said the number of drowning cases ran into a few hundreds nationwide each year and this matter must be taken seriously.
There have been 18 deaths reported last year in Kuala Lumpur alone.
It is necessary to take proactive steps and ensure they are followed.
It would be upsetting to see more drowning deaths because of negligence and lack of preventive measures by those responsible for the safety of the public.
It is the responsibility of various organisations, agencies, and authorities with jurisdiction over beaches, disused mining ponds, rivers and hotel swimming pools to identify the dangers and take steps to minimise the risk of injury or death by drowning.
There is a need for constant supervision of children at beaches, rivers and hotel swimming pools.
To address the issue of drowning, we need to establish a National Water Safety Council which aims to:
l promote water safety awareness in a holistic and comprehensive manner and introduce national water safety standards;
l encourage swimming proficiency as a critical living skill, particularly for children, and teach them basic life-saving skills in case of an emergency;
l promote safe building designs for water-related recreational facilities, equipped with up-to-date water safety features and equipment;
l to ensure timely response by civil defence, Fire and Rescue Department, police and other organisations in the event of an emergency;
l determine water safety signages, similar to road safety signages, for display at all beaches and places with water sports and activities, such as resorts, hotel swimming pools, waterfalls and disused mining ponds;
l ensure lifeguards are stationed at all beaches and water-related activities in public areas including hotel swimming pools;
l caution tourists about the dangers of our waters through adequate information materials and with the help of tour guides.
Raising public awareness of and organising education campaigns about water safety and safe practices during water activities is essential to minimise drowning.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
NIOSH chairman