PUTRAJAYA: The Fire and Rescue Department has identified 15 high risk areas where drowning has occurred.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the department would keep close tabs on these areas especially with school holidays around the corner.
Among the hotspots identified were Sungai Kampung Batu Payung, Tawau, Sabah, where 15 victims hae drowned; Pantai Nipah Bachok, Kelantan (14 victims); Sungai Sendat Waterfall in Ulu Yam, Selangor (12 victims); Sekayu Waterfall, Terengganu (11 victims); Lata Berembun in Raub, Pahang (10 victims); Semenyih Dam, Selangor (10 victims) and Taman Putra Perdana Dam in Puchong (10 victims).
"These places have been categorised as high-risk as they recorded five fatal drowning cases and above.
"These hotspots have high number of such cases recorded between 2016 and 2018," she said after the launch of the Water Activity Safety Council logo and Basic Water Safety Awareness Module.
Also present were Housing and Local Government Ministry's secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek; Fire and Rescue Department director-general Mohammad Hamdan Wahid and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
Zuraida said several "quick wins" approaches had been identified in today's Water Activity Safety Council meeting to address drowning issues.
In addition to identifying the 15 hotspots with high cases of fatal drownings, she said signboards displaying safety measures would be erected at these areas.
"Immediate replacement of old, worn out signboards on water safety measures will be carried out by the local authorities and relevant agencies," said Zuraida.
Based on Fire and Rescue Department data, she said the department had recorded 260 fatal drowning cases in 2016; 327 cases in 2017, and 309 cases last year.
"In 2018, there were 182 incidents reported at rivers/water channels; 58 incidents at beaches; 39 incidents at lakes/mining pools, and 27 incidents at waterfalls," she said.
On the Basic Water Safety Awareness Module, Zuraida said it was an initiative to expose school children to safety measures when conducting water activities.
There are two modules involved - Module 1 stressing on theories relating to basic guidelines and water safety measures to be conducted in schools, and Module 2, an advanced module from the theory module by conducting practical sessions on basic water safety measures at places with pools.
Zuraida said the new module would be implemented at all schools in Putrajaya in stages.
"Two schools- SMKA Presint 11 and SK Presint 11(3) have been chosen as the pioneer schools to adopt the Basic Water Safety Awareness Module.
"The module will be introduced to all schools in the near future," she said, adding efforts were being made towards making it compulsory at all schools.
She said for the practical exposure to water safety measures, school children would use existing public pools.
"We will also consider to engage the hotels to allow us using their pools as part of their CSR programme."