Armizan (front row, centre) with guests and Civil Defence officials at the event on Feb 19.
KOTA KINABALU: Civil Defence personnel should be considered part of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), says Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) said that with the basic training given to volunteers in the Civil Defence Force, as well as on-the-ground experience, they should be considered for the SMART team.
However, a strategic plan has to be in place before this idea can be implemented so that the existing manpower would not be reduced and efficiency can be enhanced, not compromised, he said.
“Perhaps additional manpower and hiring of new personnel and volunteers can be among the considerations,” he said at an event with state Civil Defence officials and volunteers here on Sunday (Feb 19).
He said there should be more efforts to empower the Civil Defence Force in the effort to prepare and address matters during crises, in facing enemies of the nation and disaster management.
Acknowledging how the agency works with and for local communities at the grassroots level, he said there should be more engagement with the locals so that both parties would be able to help one another when needed.
“We hope more Malaysians are willing to sign up as Civil Defence volunteers in this effort,” Armizan said.
He added that in Sabah, over 196,000 people have joined and trained as Civil Defence volunteers to date.
As a Federal minister from Sabah, he said he will try his best to ensure that the Sabah Civil Defence Force gets more priority in assets and fund distribution.
Armizan said some 100 units of new ambulances for rescue and emergency usage are expected to be bought and distributed by July next year, out of which Sabah and Sarawak will get 15 units each.
Earlier, during the event, a total of 204 Civil Defence officials and personnel received medals and promotions.
They included political secretary to the Chief Minister Datuk Dr Roland Chia, who was awarded the rank of associate colonel (Civil Defence).
