Fearless Terengganu APM Female Officers Tackle Snakes To Keep Public Safe

By Balqis Jamaludin

KUALA NERUS, March 26 (Bernama) -- For most people, just catching sight of a snake is enough to send shivers down the spine. But for a female officer of the Civil Defence Force in Terengganu, facing venomous reptiles is all in a day’s work, part of her mission to keep the community safe.

Over her 16-year career, Second Lieutenant (PA) Farah Nadia Abdullah has handled more than 700 snake cases, including highly venomous and dangerous species such as king cobras, monocled cobras, and reticulated pythons.

The 38-year-old, serving with Kuala Nerus APM, said courage and knowledge of reptile behaviour are key to keeping operations safe for both officers and the public.

“I learned from a colleague skilled in snake handling how to understand their behaviour and safely tame them. When I receive an emergency call about a snake, I ask if it has been hit, because it tends to be more aggressive afterward.

“When I get to a scene, I first observe the snake’s position and movements to judge if it’s aggressive. The hardest to handle, in my experience, are king cobras because of their fierce nature and rapid movements,” she told Bernama.

Farah Nadia said her snake-handling skills were passed down from her late grandfather, Tahir Bidin, who was once a renowned and skilled snake catcher.

With her natural talent and professional training at APM, she is determined to prove that women can thrive in a field long dominated by men.

The same fearless spirit runs through Junior Officer (PA) Nurin Qurratu Ain Norrozi, who admits she has never been afraid of snakes since she was a child, a courage that now makes handling them part of her daily duty.

Nurin Qurratu Ain said new APM recruits are always guided by experienced officers before joining real operations.

“We train in stages. Before any operation, senior officers show us how to handle and control snakes while keeping ourselves and the public safe,” she said.

Nurin Qurratu Ain joined the APM after graduating from Politeknik Besut in 2022 and has since taken part in hundreds of snake capture and relocation operations, including venomous and large snakes.

“Some people questioned my decision to join the APM, saying women like me should be in the kitchen or office. Even my parents worry every time I go out, knowing I face risks like venomous snakes.

“But I was able to show them how passionate I am about this work and my desire to help as many people as possible. I also promised my parents I would always look after myself. Eventually, they understood and supported my choice,” she said.

Meanwhile, APM deputy director (Operations) Major (PA) Mohd Hafiz Asikin, said 100 of the state’s 380 personnel are women, almost all trained to handle venomous animals.

He said all new APM recruits must complete basic and venomous animal handling courses at either the state or APM headquarters training centre.

“Through this approach, new recruits are first trained in observation before being trusted to lead operations fully, based on their experience and skills,” he said.

-- BERNAMA