We’ve got more bite than just catching snakes, says JPAM

KUALA LUMPUR: Besides the Fire and Rescue Department, the Civil Defence is the authority most often called in to catch snakes or to remove hornet nests that are too close to residences.

In fact, the job has become synonymous with the Jabatan Pertahanan Awam (JPAM), identified by the blue uniform and orange beret its officers wear.

However, despite being set up in 1939, many people are still unaware about JPAM’s existence or its role in society.

Changing public perception that it is not just a “snake-catching agency” has become a major challenge for its director-general Datuk Zaitun Ab Samad.

“That is just one of the services offered by the department,” she said in a recent interview.

Zaitun, who was appointed to the post in May last year, said JPAM, previously referred to as JPA3, served as the third layer of the country’s defence after the armed forces and the police.

“The first function is to maintain public security in times of war.

“For example, when the country is under attack, the armed forces will go out to defend the country, with the police becoming the second liner.

“JPAM will then assist in maintaining public security,” she said.

Zaitun said the second function was to assist the people during natural disasters and provide emergency aid.

In times of peace, JPAM provides assistance following road accidents and accidents at the workplace, among many others, she added.

Zaitun said improving public awareness of the department and making it an outstanding entity in improving the people’s preparedness to face disasters were among her key performance indicators.

“Our strategy is to make JPAM a strong uniformed team that is synonymous with defence, not just snakes,” she added.

Zaitun said several programmes were being implemented to improve public acceptance of the department, including the Civil Defence Security Awareness Programme for school and kindergarten students, the Civil Defence cadet for secondary school students and the Civil Defence volunteers for university students.

JPAM has about 850,000 volunteer members and 570 permanent staff.

“What makes JPAM different from the armed forces and the police is that the backbone of the JPAM team is made up of members of the society who want to serve voluntarily,” said Zaitun. — Bernama