ALOR SETAR, 27 January 2026 – In a concerted effort to strengthen disaster preparedness and community resilience, the Alor Setar City Council (MBAS), in collaboration with Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), organised the United Symposium on Disaster Management: MBAS–Universiti Utara Malaysia Collaboration Towards a Resilient Community 2025 at the UTC Building, today.
The symposium served as a strategic platform that brought together local authorities, relevant agencies, communities, and academic institutions to collectively address urban disaster risks, including floods, landslides, and other unforeseen events that directly impact community safety and well-being.
The closing ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Secretary to the Government (Management) and Chief Data Officer (CDO) of Kedah State, Dato’ Dr Nadzman Mustaffa, and was also attended by the Vice-Chancellor of UUM, Prof. Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed.
At the same juncture, Dato’ Dr Nadzman Mustaffa officially launched the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programme in Information Technology and Computer Science (Specialisation in Geoinformatics) under the School of Computing (SOC), UUM.
In his address, Dr Nadzman highlighted that the strategic cooperation between MBAS and UUM continues to be strengthened through knowledge transfer, impactful research, and the application of technology for community development.
He noted that this initiative is further supported through sponsorships and collaborations with international agencies, including Erasmus+, the Netherlands Organisation for Internationalisation in Education (NUFFIC), and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), in line with national aspirations for internationalisation and the development of disaster solutions grounded in global innovation.
He emphasised that disaster realities must be acknowledged, while recognising that these challenges can also generate positive transformation when managed effectively.
“We cannot stand alone in managing disasters. It requires the collective involvement of multiple agencies. Among them, UUM possesses expertise that can be strategically leveraged. In addition, UUM is set to introduce the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Information Technology and Computer Science (Specialisation in Geoinformatics) beginning today, serving as a structured pathway for the development of advanced research expertise in the fields of disaster studies and spatial sciences,” he said.
Dr Nadzman congratulated MBAS and UUM for their commitment in advancing this important agenda towards building a more prepared, informed, and resilient community, while supporting the smart city development agenda and data-driven disaster management.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed described the symposium as a strategic collaboration that reflects UUM’s strong commitment to disaster preparedness and resilience-building.
According to him, the initiative symbolises UUM’s dedication to empowering research grounded in digital technologies and spatial analytics to address disaster challenges in a more structured, proactive, and high-impact manner.
“Beyond serving as a platform for knowledge and experience sharing in disaster management, this symposium highlights the critical role of digital technology and geoinformatics in enabling more accurate and proactive urban disaster risk management.
“With the launch of the PhD Programme in Information Technology and Computer Science (Geoinformatics Specialisation), we also encourage the involvement of MBAS and related agencies as strategic partners in supporting PhD research,” he said.
The symposium featured three thematic sessions: Slot 1, “Flood Hotspots Dissected: Strategies and Impactful Dispersal” by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS); Slot 2, “Moments of Anxiety: Wise Actions in the Face of Unexpected Disasters” by the Malaysian Civil Defence Department (JPAM); and Slot 3, “Learning Without Borders: A Lifelong Learning Opportunity Abroad” by UUM.
