SHAH ALAM, Sept 29 — The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) in Selangor is strengthening its capacity to handle emergencies, disasters, and crises by establishing the Selangor Special Incident and Emergency Response Rapid Team (SIERRA).
Selangor APM director YS Col (PA) Fazlisyah Muslim said Selangor is the first state to implement the initiative, before the concept is considered for expansion nationwide.
SIERRA will serve as a support team for APM’s main force, while strengthening the civil defence agency’s functions and role in dealing with various types of incidents.
“This team has only recently been established, and we are still in the process of strengthening it. Our intention is for it to become a component that can support the main force.
“The name SIERRA itself carries a clear message that requires the team not only to be prepared but also to be able to move quickly, possess specialised skills, and provide an effective response,” he said.
Fazlisyah was speaking to Media Selangor after the Selangor Civil Defence Pledge Assembly and 74th Civil Defence Anniversary Celebration at Dewan Jubli Perak today.
He added that the SIERRA Team currently has 40 volunteer members who will undergo intensive training over the coming months.
This is necessary to develop a more capable team with specialised skills in handling incidents.
“We hope that this team can be provided with more intensive training over the coming months, and that we will see a more capable team with specialised knowledge,” Fazlisyah said.
The SIERRA Team's scope of duties is not limited to disaster management, but also covers emergencies and crises.
“Under the Malaysia Civil Defence Act 1951, APM’s functions and role are not limited to emergencies and disasters, but also include crises and, if I may put it this way, matters involving incidents of violence and even warfare,” he said.
As such, its establishment is expected to complement the existing components of civil defence, thereby enabling APM’s functions to be carried out more comprehensively.
The force also proposed establishing the team at a higher level, with Selangor selected as the pilot state for implementation.
“We hope that with the establishment of this team and the functions it will carry out in the future, the higher level, namely the headquarters and the entire country, will be able to adopt this concept,” Fazlisyah said.
