HIGHER RATES FOR CIVIL DEFENCE MEN

Department’s annual uniform budget also doubled to RM10 million this year, says Zahid

DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday announced a higher allowance for the Civil Defence Force (APM), from RM7.80 to RM9 per hour for officers, and RM6 to RM8 for personnel.

He also announced the department’s annual uniform budget would rise from RM5 million last year to RM10 million this year.

Zahid also instructed the department to submit an application to the Public Service Department (PSD) to increase permanent posts and for an increase in higher grades.

It is understood that APM has about 1,500 permanent staff to manage two million volunteers nationwide.

Zahid also instructed senior deputy secretary-general of the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali, to submit the application to PSD as soon as possible.

“This (allowance) increase is to motivate the personnel and officers of APM nationwide,” he said.

The allowance increase was met with loud cheers from the 3,000 APM staff and officers, who attended a gathering with Zahid at SM Sains Bagan Datoh here yesterday.

Present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Perak Human Resources, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya and Civil Defence Force chief commissioner Datuk Azmy Yahya.

Zahid, who is also home minister, said when the force was under the ministry, its membership stood at 800,000, but had since increased to 2.1 million after it came under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department.

APM personnel, he said, were unsung heroes who should be proud of their achievements.

Azmy said APM had been given a larger role after coming under the PM’s Department, including aiding the Eastern Sabah Security Command.