By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Oct 23 — Selangor Volunteers (SERVE) is aiming to get 3,000 registered members by the end of the year, said the state exco for community networking and volunteerism Danish Hairudin.
He said the additional members in each state constituency would ease and stabilise any work that needs to be undertaken, in the event of a disaster.
Danish explained that groups involved in disaster relief can support local community service centres, by providing aid to affected victims.
“SERVE is a platform which seeks to continue social activities with the community. Many are interested in SERVE’s work methods on the community, as we are able to carry on, no matter the circumstances.
“So, we have made space for the public in Selangor, including in Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya, to contribute their services. We will guide them in pioneering new experiences,” he said during the ‘Kenali SERVE: Sukarelawan Selangor’ talk programme live-streamed on Media Selangor’s Facebook yesterday.
Similarly Danish said SERVE has been placed under the Selangor State Disaster Management Unit, as the primary support group in the event of any incident.
The decision to put SERVE under the unit was made after the assistance mission on the river source disaster at Yan, Kedah, last August.
“Based on the discussions with exco for youth generation Mohd Khairuddin Othman and the unit, they agreed to put SERVE in the support group. We can ensure safety and a controlled environment at locations, after disasters have occurred,” he said.
On August 29, some 50 SERVE members were mobilised to Yan in aid of the victims of the upstream water rush, which engulfed Gunung Jerai and turned a village into a river.
The organisation has also provided food assistance to victims of the landslide at Kemensah Height, and flash floods in Selangor.
SERVE is open to individuals aged 36 and above, and is a complement to Penggerak Belia Selangor, which limits its members to the ages of 18 to 35.
