KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Civil Defence Department (JPAM) will establish the sea unit of the Malaysian Defence Forces (APM) on September 1, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim.
He said the establishment of the new unit, which aimed to increase the level of security in the country’s waters against smuggling and piracy, was in line with the renaming of JPAM to APM.
“I expect there to be more than 1,000 personnel in the APM sea unit nationwide by the end of the year,” he told reporters after officiating the launching of a logo and the appointment of officers under the CDERT (Civil Defence Emergency Response Team-Better Nation unit at the Putra World Trade Centre here, today. He said initially, the focus of the APM Sea unit would be to enroll fishermen, who would carry out tasks such as the cleaning up of islands, as well as maintaining the safety of the country’s waters.
“They will be given military, security and volunteerism training. Currently, there are two boats being used for the exercise,” he said.
Civil Defence chief commissioner Datuk Ogu Salim Omar, who is also APM director-general, was also present. A total of 26 personnel received the letter of appointment as honorary and allied Defence officers, among them from Risda Security, Sapura and Seri Pertiwi. Meanwhile the CDERT-Better Nation unit comprising 60 personnel was established at the community level to find solutions to safety issues at the workplace.
