Malaysia has ​an administratively-established DRM system comprising the Natural Disaster Management and Relief Committee, established in 1972 under the National Security Council (NSC) Directive No. 20. It recently reviewed the preparedness and response aspects of its DRM system and passed the Civil Defence (amendment) Act 2016.

The 2016 law, which complements the existing system, makes important changes to the Civil Defence Force Act 1951. It is now a key responsibility for the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (MCDF) under the patronage of the Prime Minister’s Department along with the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to adapt a multi-hazard approach in the disaster risk management. The MCDF is one of the responders besides the Royal Malaysian Police & Fire and Rescue (RMPFRD) department. This includes the implementation of Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) to pursue public involvement in DRR effort.

The new National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), was created in 2015 as a separate body, having been part of the National Security Division of the Prime Minister’s Department for many years. The new law and the continuing NSC Directive are relatively comprehensive, in that together they establish national, district and local committees and their responsibilities in three levels of disaster, now moving towards a fourth level, although the system remains focused on preparedness and response.

Since NADMA took over the DRM portfolio from NSC in 2015, it has been consulting with stakeholders towards drafting a new disaster risk management law.

​Under the administratively-established DRM system, sub-national structures are:

1. State Disaster Management and Relief Committee

2. District Disaster Management and Relief Committee

3. Since the 2016 reforms, small units are being placed at the community or village level, making a fourth tier.

Malaysia’s funds for disaster risk management are budgeted annually through the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and also at the state and district level.
NADMA also has a specific fund for disaster risk management.

The AHA Centre National Focal Point is the NADMA.

​The Central Disaster Management and Relief Committee (CDMRC)/NDMA, is authorised “To get expertise assistance from local authority or foreign country to help in managing a disaster.” (NSC Dir No. 20 Appendix A Art. B (5))
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The Civil Defence (Amendment) Act 2016, allow that members of the Civil Defence Force may be required to serve outside Malaysia, and may also be attached to a civil defence force or organization outside Malaysia (Arts. 4 E and 4F).