1,107 Kor SISPA Cadets First To Receive New Allowance

TANJONG MALIM, Aug 16  (Bernama) -- Some 1,107 cadets from the Civil Defence Student Corps (Kor SISPA) at 36 higher learning institutions (IPTs) will be the first group to receive the newly approved allowance, with payments beginning this month.

Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang said the allowance would be paid in phases based on priority, with the first phase involving an estimated financial implication of RM500,000.

“This is a positive starting point. Efforts to improve the welfare of Kor SISPA members are no longer just a discussion but have now been translated into real implementation,” she said.

Rubiah, who is also the Civil Defence honorary commissioner, said this after representing Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the 17th National Kor SISPA Commissioning Ceremony at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris here today.

She said the government would continue to explore the best fiscal options to expand the initiative so that more Kor SISPA members could benefit over time.

Rubiah added that the one-off allowance would be calculated based on hours of duty, with RM9.80 per hour for those with a bachelor’s degree and RM8 per hour for diploma holders.

The allowance aimed to encourage IPT students to participate in Kor SISPA programmes and provide exposure and motivation for them to contribute towards public safety efforts.

“Civil Defence personnel do not only serve during disasters. They provide assistance throughout the year, including at events and activities in universities and outside campuses,” she said.

The programme (Kor SISPA), which began in 2010 at universities, IPTs and teacher education institutes, has produced 11,802 graduates to date.

The next commissioning ceremony is scheduled to be held at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) next year.

-- BERNAMA