By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, Oct 18 — The Selangor Volunteer (Serve) Rescue team is equipped with rescue tools to ensure that the team can respond more efficiently to emergencies, particularly floods.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said equipment such as boats and life vests improve the ability of the volunteers who work as a support team for the authorities.
“The annual allocation for Serve will be increased. Although the volunteers already have some equipment, most are focused on post-disaster such as cleaning tools.
“The team will help the rescue operations, especially with the Fire and Rescue Department, but they must obtain permission from the relevant authorities first,” he said at a press conference at the closing ceremony of the Serve Rescue training course at the Fire and Rescue Station in Section 15, here yesterday.
Amirudin said that more than 300 applications to join the Serve Rescue team had been received, but only 37 applicants qualified after undergoing several screening processes.
“Due to the high interest, perhaps we will open it to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the future. However, the syllabus will be different with a training course of two to three months,” he said.
Previously known as Serve Elite, the volunteer team had undergone basic training, which includes working with the Water Rescue Team to handle flood victims.
The state government has provided a fund of RM100,000 to form the team.
