UNDRR noted that the country had gone to “great lengths” to ensure a comprehensive approach to risk communications and community engagement.

It also worked to establish trust with the population and provide transparency regarding the Covid-19 situation, with the full support of the World Health Organization for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.

“Malaysia has made tremendous progress in strengthening capacities to respond to health emergencies and disasters in the last decade.

“This was accomplished through use of a step-by-step strategy for strengthening health security, well-established control and coordination mechanisms, a multi-sectoral and collaborative approach, and a robust national surveillance system,” the report read.

UNDRR went on to say that Malaysia’s well-coordinated responses to the current Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated its ability to put in place a clear vision and plans “led by competent, empowered institutions acting on scientific evidence for the public good”.

It also noted that the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre played a crucial role in responding to the pandemic.

UNDRR added that the health ministry played a crucial role in ensuring maximum readiness to contain the spread of the virus.

This includes the enforcement of health screening at all points of entry and the setting up of a special fund known as the Covid-19 Fund, to raise money for patients, particularly those affected financially due to the quarantine procedure.

UNDRR’s report comes as the nation continues to record at least 1,000 cases daily over the past eight weeks, with numbers breaching the 3,000 mark daily since Jan 12.

Earlier this month, the health ministry said daily Covid-19 infections could reach up to 8,000 by mid-March if the infection rate (R0, pronounced R-naught) stays at 1.2. However, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah yesterday said the current national infection rate stands at 1.04.