PORT DICKSON, July 10 — The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) volunteer allowance has been increased to RM40 per day earlier this month, with a financial impact of RM1.8 million per year.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions), Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, said the increase in allowance will benefit over 10,000 APM volunteers in the country.
The allowance for volunteers was last increased to RM5 per day in 1970, and the move is in line with APM’s improvement in terms of strengthening the organisation, remuneration and human resources.
“This course is important because we want these volunteers to improve their skills.
“According to the statistics, the volunteers have saved 461 lives in drowning accidents on the beaches during these five years,” he said at the closing ceremony of the national-level 2023 Civil Defence Beach Lifeguard Challenge (CDLC), in Pantai Batu 5, earlier today.
Meanwhile, Armizan said the ministry will forward a proposal to the government on the need to create a contractual position in APM, to strengthen its role as the secretariat of disaster management committees in districts and states.
“Disaster management operates at three levels of committees, namely central, state and district. For the states and districts, the secretariat for disaster management is the APM,” he said.
The appointment of the contract staff is important as it included tasks like recording APM assets, which are increasing over time.
Today’s event had a total of 402 participants, including 15 state APM contingents, and three external agency teams.
— Bernama
