By Yeap Ming Liong
Associate Captain, Malaysian Civil Defence Force
The 73rd Malaysia Civil Defence Day will be celebrated on March 24th. The theme of this year’s celebration is “”Sukarelawan dan Pertahanan Awam : Teras Kesejahteraan Nasional” or “Volunteers and Civil Defence: The Core of National Wellbeing”
This resonates greatly with the duties undertaken by the Civil Defence Force of Malaysia, who work tirelessly along with other Malaysian uniformed personnel to serve without any complaints whatsoever.
In light of Malaysia Civil Defence Day, I call on everyone to appreciate the sacrifices and dedication of not only the Civil Defence Force, but also other uniformed personnel, who have tirelessly given their all.
However, it pains me to read of negative comments and jibes on social media ridiculing the roles and responsibilities of the force. Please respect the uniform and what it symbolises, which ultimately reflects on our sovereign. I urge all Malaysians to appreciate the sacrifices of my brothers and sisters in the Malaysian Civil Defence Force.
Service above self has always been evident in their duties. These officers and personnel do not ask for much; they have always answered the call of duty and are among the first to respond to any emergencies. It is a testament of their hard work, dedication and commitment to King and Country.
It is regrettable that some individuals do not even know of the existence of the Civil Defence Force despite the fact the force has been in existence for 70 years.
The Malaysian Civil Defence force among others carry out disaster management, perform humanitarian services, instruct the civilian population regarding civil defence and train them for civil defence purposes. They even have their own special disaster and emergency response team known as the SPIDER team, which specialises in Search and Rescue (SAR).
I call on everyone to respect, honour and above all appreciate the sacrifices of not only the Civil Defence Force, but all uniformed personnel, who have tirelessly given their all in the name of the Jalur Gemilang.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Ipoh Echo
