I would like to remind the public that the Civil Defence Force of Malaysia is known as Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia (APM) and not Jabatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia (JPAM). The force used to be known as JPAM and I know that the acronym has sort of become a household name. I see some political leaders and the public making the mistake and this has to be corrected.
The rebranding is not new, as the APM acronym has come into effect since September 2016. The Civil Defence Force, like all other frontliners, have served Malaysia tirelessly not only in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, but also during emergencies and disasters. Hence, it is only correct for everyone to address the force properly.
The Malaysian Civil Defence Force, among others, carries out disaster management, performs humanitarian services, instructs the civilian population regarding civil defence, and trains them for civil defence purposes. They also have their own special disaster and emergency response team known as the SPIDER team, which specializes in Search and Rescue (SAR).
The recent LRT collision, while tragic, is the perfect example of how our uniformed heroes such as the police, fire and rescue department and civil defence force work alongside their counterparts to not only protect, but also save lives.
I strongly urge the public to stand in solidarity with not only my brothers and sisters in the force, but all other frontliners. They have really given their all for the country and they truly are without a doubt, Malaysia’s finest.
Yeap Ming Liong
Associate Captain (Malaysian Civil Defence Force)
