Singapore 26 Aug 2025 Tuesday  – Deputy State Secretary of Sarawak (Administration) Datu Buckland Bangik in his capacity as the Secretariat of the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) led a delegation from NREB for a technical visit to ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), Singapore earlier today.

The objectives of the visit were to understand ASMC’s approach to weather forecasting and how it supports air quality and hotspot management and strengthen partnership with ASMC for continued knowledge-sharing and cooperation on air quality monitoring.

ASMC was represented by Mr Lesley Choo - Director of Operations, Mr. Eugene Chong - Deputy Director, Zheng Kaiyuan - Branch Head ASMC Operations, Chia Zhong Yi - Executive Meteorologist and Alvin Chan - Manager, International Affairs.

The delegation was briefed on the Overview of ASMC, Fire and Haze Monitoring, Assessment and Early Warning and Smoke Haze Dispersion Modelling at the ASMC. Meanwhile, Ag. AC Mary Magdalen Lutok gave a briefing on Air Quality and Haze Monitoring in Sarawak.

Both parties also deliberated on matters including potential collaboration with ASMC on air quality monitoring, capacity building opportunities for NREB staff, extension of invitation to NREB for future forums, seminars or workshops organised by ASMC and sharing of high-resolution climate projections data.

After the briefing session, the delegation was given a tour of the ASMC office including their command centre. Also in attendance from NREB was AC Marinni binti Datuk Haji Khir and SECO Mitchell Bay Samuel, as well as Special Administrative Office Diana Corazon Blikau of the DSS (Administration) Office.