Datuk Dr Chai Khin Chung
KUCHING: Petronas helping with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programme as a social responsibility has motivated many to join the voluntary group in Sarawak.
State Enforcement and Security Unit (UPKN) director, Datuk Dr Chai Khin Chung, told Bernama in an exclusive interview that since the programme was introduced in 2010 in Sarawak, 9,539 people from 2,255 villages have joined.
“To date, 53 CERTs have been created, and between 2015 and 2019, the participation increased after Petronas adopted the programme as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project,” he said.
He said Petronas has contributed RM5 million to the programme to
encourage community participation during disasters and emergencies.
“Aside from helping with training courses, the funding will be used by UPKN to buy equipment like a fire pump to be supplied to CERTs that are also assisted by a volunteer firefighting team,” he said.
Chai said UPKN manages the programme which also has the involvement of the Police, Social Welfare Department (JKM), Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Health Department, Sarawak Energy Bhd, Civil Defence Force (APM), Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Resident and District Offices.
“CERTs were created in Sarawak’s rural areas to enable communities to take action to tackle disasters and save lives,” he said.
He said the Sarawak geography and remoteness of many areas does require a CERT for immediate help.
“Aside from being trained to respond to an emergency, CERTs are also equipped with things like first aid kit and fire pump which can facilitate their response to an incident,” he said. — Bernama