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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 11, No. 2.2
Publication Date: February 25, 2024
DOI:10.14738/assrj.112.2.16404.
Yatim, L. A. M., Abdul Munir, Z., Razak, N. A., Bahry, N. S., Mat, N., & Kori, N. L. (2024). Adapting the Shield: Ensuring Military
Readiness for Flood Disaster in Malaysia's. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(2.2). 333-346.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Adapting the Shield: Ensuring Military Readiness for Flood
Disaster in Malaysia's
Lilis Asyura M. Yatim
chyralis@gmail.com
Faculty of Business Management, Universiti Teknologi
MARA Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Zarina Abdul Munir
*Corresponding author: zarin453@uitm.edu.my
Faculty of Business Management, Universiti Teknologi
MARA Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Norfadzilah A. Razak
norfadzilah0438@uitm.edu.my
Faculty of Business Management, Universiti Teknologi
MARA Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Norliza S. Bahry
azmimat@uitm.edu.my
Faculty of Business Management, Universiti Teknologi
MARA Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Azmi Mat
norliz2956@uitm.edu.my
Faculty of Business Management, Universiti Teknologi
MARA Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Nur Liana Kori
nurliana2057@uitm.edu.my
Faculty of Business Management, Universiti Teknologi
MARA Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
The number of disasters is increasing day by day all over the world. In Malaysia,
several peninsular states are frequently overwhelmed by flooding during the
monsoon season. The military has played an imperative role in disaster
management and relief. The Malaysian Armed Forces are well-trained in terms of
combat. However, disaster relief is a secondary part of their social responsibilities.
Malaysian Armed Forces members still try their best to complete the assigned task
with total commitment, even though they have not had any specific training on this
matter. There are lots of studies found that relate to the knowledge and attitude of
nurses and health providers towards flood disaster management; however, more
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 11, Issue 2.2, February-2024
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
research needs to be conducted among Malaysian Armed Forces members. Due to
this matter, this paper was developed to scrutinize Malaysian Armed Forces
members' knowledge, willingness, and attitude toward flood disaster
preparedness. This research will be based on a quantitative method distributed to
the Malaysian Armed Forces members in the Ministry of Defense. Questionnaires
were distributed online to the respondents among Malaysian Armed Forces
members in the Ministry of Defense. The study managed to get 264 respondents
from Malaysian Armed Forces members in three different services: the Army, Navy,
and Air Force. The data is analyzed using descriptive, reliable, and regression
analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Apart from that,
regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis in this study. The finding found
that knowledge of flood disaster preparedness and willingness/attitude is
significant towards flood disaster preparedness. The findings imply effective
practices and strategies applied by the Malaysian Armed Forces in facing disasters
in the future.
Keywords: Flood Disaster, Attitude, Readiness, Regression Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Massive floods typically occur in highly populated areas. This is exacerbated by unregulated
human activities, such as infrastructure construction along the river areas, and unregulated
damaging property, resulting in clogged drains and reservoirs (Mohd Nasir, 2018); Mabahwi &
Nakamura, 2020). With the massive growth and development of the nation as a whole,
innumerable states, particularly those in the eastern coastal regions, have been severely
impacted in recent years. Nor has the capital, Kuala Lumpur, been spared. (Noorhashirin & Juni,
2016). Preparedness is portrayed as one methodology to achieve catastrophe risk management
and is strongly related to mitigation (Baker & Ludwig, 2016). Disaster resilience, according to
the United Nations Office of Disaster Risk Reduction (2016); Natalie D. Baker & Lisa Grant
Ludwig (2016) are the philosophy and practice of disaster preparedness by concerted attempts
to evaluate and minimize the potential causes of catastrophic events. From the other
perspective, preparedness is indeed one of the principal elements that can be included in the
flood risk reduction plan (Alias, Siwar, Ismail, & Idris, 2019). This can also be ascertained based
on work by Noorhashirin and Juni (2016). Emergency preparedness deserves extensive
attention because it is a vital factor that can assist a nation in the case of natural or artificial
disasters and catastrophes.
Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is focused on a top-down or government-centric strategy in
Malaysia (Chan 2012). This depicts why the Malaysian Preparedness Program is reactive rather
than constructive (Shariff & Hamidi 2016b). Salleh and Shahran (2016) said that one of
Malaysia's critical issues in handling flood hazards is its reliance on government machinery.
Previous researchers, Zakaria, Ahmad, Mohd Noor, and Ahmad (2018), noted that whereas
flooding is a pervasive catastrophe in Malaysia, challenges such as information and knowledge
integration have yet to be rectified. Flood prevention practices in Malaysia face a variety of
obstacles. Broader organizations have been engrossed in disaster management without
appropriate paperwork verifying the various cross-agencies and authority positions. To date, it
has yet to be apparent how the knowledge of agencies and authorities is accessed and
assimilated with each other. The emerging method of flood control in Malaysia is widely agreed
upon.
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Yatim, L. A. M., Abdul Munir, Z., Razak, N. A., Bahry, N. S., Mat, N., & Kori, N. L. (2024). Adapting the Shield: Ensuring Military Readiness for Flood
Disaster in Malaysia's. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(2.2). 333-346.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.112.2.16404
According to Yazid, Faris, Tengku, & Abdullah (2017), lack of knowledge of the standard
operating procedure to be implemented in the case of a natural catastrophe, preparedness
concerns, and attitude and coordination challenges are part of the current flood risk reduction
issues on the East Coast of Malaysia. Additional studies also reveal that floods have become an
annual tragedy in Malaysia and that the country vastly outstrips flood preparedness
(Kamarulzaman Viappuri, Ismail, and Mydin, 2016). These circumstances, amongst others,
underlined the fact that enough studies provide knowledge on flood preparedness. Still, their
attitude and behavior encumber them in preparation for expanding their level of attentiveness
(Wafaa & Ghonem, 2018). Scholastically, the former study used analytical techniques such as
qualitative scrutiny and descriptive or multivariate investigation such as regression. Likewise,
most studies were on aspects influencing flood preparedness, such as knowledge, perceived
intimidation, locality, and income. Still, limited studies have been done on factors that stimulate
flood preparedness behavior (Gazali, 2018). Therefore, this study aims to examine the
knowledge of flood disaster preparedness among Malaysian Armed Forces members towards
flood disaster preparedness. Despite that, this study will also observe the willingness and
attitude of Malaysia Armed Forces members toward preparedness for flood disaster events.
Flood Disaster Preparedness
Disaster preparedness is actions that ensure the resources necessary to carry out an effective
response are available before a disaster (Najafi, Ardalan, Akbarisari, Noorbala, & Elmi, 2017).
As cited by Najafi, Ardalan, Akbarisari, Noorbala, & Elmi (2017), disaster preparedness is a
health-protective behavior, so behavioral approaches have taken center stage as a means of it.
Disaster preparedness consists of the activities designed to improve the ability to start
emergency measures to protect property and contain damage and disruption, as well as the
capacity to engage in post-disaster restoration and early recovery activities (Wafaa & Ghonem,
2018). Preparedness for flooding is an early flood alert program that includes supplying the
public with appropriate details on flooding so that the public can be better aware of the effects
of floods and will recognize how to adapt to the floods. Delivering flood details to the public
would implicitly raise the unnecessary effects of the flooding before and during the flooding.
Consciousness of flood risk is thus the most critical and needs to be shared through populations,
including those residing in flood-prone areas. Knowledge will raise awareness of natural
disasters and preparedness, especially among the non-literate population (Padli et al., 2010).
Knowledge
Knowledge refers to the awareness of fundamental principles and elements of flood disaster
preparedness. According to Abdullah, Zailan, & Riduan (2018), the knowledge about disaster
risks, the factors that lead to disasters, and the actions that can be taken, individually and
collectively, to reduce exposure and vulnerability to hazards. Preparing for a catastrophe or
evacuation is exceptionally vital, indispensable, and a primary concern for everyone associated
with it. In both fields, individuals or experts must be competent and trained to plan for
emergencies or to cope with emergencies (Aung, Khin & Nurumal, Mohd & Ahayalimudin,
Nurul'Ain., 2019). Malla, Hasegawa, & Dahal, 2019) define that knowledge has a role in creating
awareness of the given role(s) and task(s), which helps the responder to work within the
outlined framework. In contrast, preparedness renders them a platform to carry out effective,
realistic, and coordinated planning, reduces duplication of effort, and increases overall
effectiveness. In the void of these pillars, challenges persist in coordination, integration, and