Over 300 firefighters to be trained for 'MUST' this year

PULAU INDAH, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Over 300 firefighters selected from seven states will be trained by the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) to join the Multi-Skill Team (MUST) this year.

JBPM deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yasin said those selected will undergo a 21-day course with exposure to all aspects and situations in the air, land and water to assist JBPM air units in search and rescue tasks.

"In Selangor, 46 people including two female firefighters have been commissioned after successfully overcoming various challenges and we believe the modules in this course will add to their mental and physical strength," he told the media after completing the MUST Commissioning Ceremony of the Selangor JBPM Team, at Pantai Aceh, here today.

He said the course participants had been trained and taught a variety of survival skills, working with aircraft, risk identification, and rescue techniques in theoretical and practical form.

Abdul Wahab said seven more similar courses will be held in Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Perak, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak in phases this year with the selection of members required to meet certain criteria.

"MUST teams have been set up in each state and these teams work to complete JBPM operations, especially when the fire air unit needs a landing place, especially in the forest, in addition to being involved in other search and rescue operations," he said.

Abdul Wahab said that as of today, the MUST team, which was established in 1998, has 516 competent and trained officers throughout the country who are also experienced in participating in search and rescue missions abroad including in Indonesia and the Philippines.

"This MUST team completes the operational package of JBPM's search and rescue mission which involves various teams such as Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Malaysia (STORM), Special Hazardous Material (Hazmat) team, air and water units and K9 units for various situations," he said.

-- BERNAMA