About 70 community leaders in Kuching have signed up with the disaster operations control centre as part of the preparation to face natural disasters, Deputy Chief Minister George Chan Hong Nam said.

They also handed over their mobile phone numbers to the centre to facilitate communications in the event of a disaster.

Dr Chan said the move would instill a higher level of alertness among the community leaders on the occurrence of disasters in their areas.

They could also receive the latest report and warning from the centre, through text messages, should there be disasters, like floods, he said.

"They can then spread the news and inform villagers on the safety measures to be taken, just like reporters who give and receive reports," he told reporters after briefing the community leaders on the system in Kuching today.

Dr Chan, who is also the Sarawak disaster management committee chairman, said for a start the system would be introduced in 16 zones in Kuching.

He said the system was useful in providing an early warning system to the public and help them take action especially during haze, fire or flood.

- Bernama