Malaysia Matters Podcast

Speaking at the Pacific Rim Air Power Symposium - a gathering of senior staff of Asian Pacific Air Forces - United States Air Force Pacific commander Lt. General Loyd S. Utterback and Royal Malaysian Air Force air operations commander Lt-Geneneral Datuk Rodzali Daud both pressed for greater joint disaster capability through the quick use of air power during disasters.

“As a regional partner, we need to be better prepared,” said Lt. Gen. Dato Rodzali bin Daug, Royal Malaysian air force air operation commander. “Especially in identifying potiential disaster areas and stocking up on necessary relief (supplies). We need to respond quickly without being hindered by bureaucratic intracacies.”

Utterback pointed out that an understanding of partner capabilities through increased communication would lead to more decisive delivery of humanitarian assistance when most needed.

Nineteen countries were represented including ”delegations from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.”