SIBU, April 28 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak branch of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) is focusing on establishing a community team, especially in the interior areas susceptible to disasters, to act as emergency responders.
Its director, Assistant Commissioner Abdul Wahab Rahim, said those joining the volunteer team would receive disaster management training and be supplied with essential equipment.
“This strategy will be really effective. The APM will form the community team in areas at risk (of disasters) such as Sungai Asap and Long Bedian,” he told reporters after the Sibu district APM promotion ceremony today.
Elaborating, he said the move is expected to increase the agency’s operating costs, but it will be very practical in the long run.
Abdul Wahab also said the Sarawak APM has a list of areas that have experienced disasters such as floods, landslides and fires, which will be the agency’s focus to deploy a larger team.
“We have about 100 disaster-prone areas, especially in rural areas such as Sungai Asap and Long Bedian, which are hard to reach,” he added.
At the ceremony, a total of 46 members of various ranks and 11 officers from the Sibu, Kanowit and Selangau districts received their promotions.
Abdul Wahab said the promotion exercise was to restructure the APM and reward members so that they would be more motivated to carry out their duties.
-- BERNAMA
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