KLUANG, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- The Civil Defence Force (APM) is strengthening its partnership with the media to improve public awareness of its roles in disaster management, rescue operations and humanitarian assistance.
APM Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Pj (PA) Ghazali Abd Rahman said media practitioners needed to understand the agency’s functions to ensure information reaching the public was accurate and timely.
He said the collaboration also gave media practitioners opportunities to gain first-hand experience of APM’s duties and responsibilities.
“This is to ensure that information on weather warnings, rescue operations, humanitarian assistance and safety measures reaches the public quickly, accurately and responsibly, enabling them to take appropriate action to reduce disaster risks and save lives and property,” he said.
Ghazali was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Strategic Partnership Programme with Southern Zone Media at the Southern Region Civil Defence Training Centre (PULAPAS) here.
He said the collaboration would help raise public awareness of disaster management and strengthen confidence in the capabilities of the country’s security agencies.
“During rescue operations, APM personnel are on the front line. However, before an operation begins, the media are at the forefront of delivering information to the people,” he said.
Gabungan Kelab Media Malaysia (GKMM) president Mohamad Fauzi Ishak, who is also Johor Media Club (KMJ) president, said the programme provided media practitioners with valuable new experiences and would be continued in the future.
He said media practitioners hoped to work more closely with APM and gain further exposure to challenging rescue operations after participating in basic rescue activities.
Bernama Johor Bureau journalist Nur Faradilla Mohamad said the exercises were her first experience taking part in rescue activities with APM, describing them as challenging but rewarding.
Kosmo journalist Adnan Ibrahim said the activities tested journalists’ physical and mental abilities by allowing them to experience tasks usually performed by rescue personnel.
The programme involved 33 media practitioners from Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, with theoretical and practical sessions on confined-space familiarisation and ascending and descending (A&D) training.
-- BERNAMA