Malaysia Civil Defence Force Explained
Malaysia Civil Defence Force
(MCDF) |
| Native Name: | Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia |
| Native Name A: | (APM) |
| Motto: | Sedia, Pantas, Berintegriti
(Readiness, Speed, Integrity) |
| Preceding1: | Jabatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia (JPAM) |
| Preceding2: | Jabatan Pertahanan Awam (JPA3) |
| Strength: | 890,000
est. 1,520,000 volunteers and reservists
est. 142,000 cadets |
| Stations: | 19 state commands
55 active units |
| Headquarters: | Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia, Jalan Maktab Perguruan Islam, Sungai Merab, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan. |
| Parent Agency: | Prime Minister's Department |
The Malaysia Civil Defence Force (Malay: Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia; popularly known as APM or MCDF; formerly JPAM or JPA3) is the civil defence services agency in Malaysia. Until 31August 2016 it was known as the Civil Defence Department (Malay: Jabatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia).
History
Pre-independence
- 1939 - Civil Defence activities in Malaysia were initiated by the British Government. Passive Defence Emergency Regulation Enactment under Chapter 4 provided measures to mitigate the effects of Second World War.
- 1951 - The Civil Defence Ordinance, 1951 was enacted as a law, establishing civil defence as a national responsibility in the threat faced by the Malayan Emergency
- 1952 - Civil Defence Department was established on 24 March for carrying out the provisions of the Ordinance.
Post-independence
- 1957 - The Civil Defence Ordinance, 1951 converted into the Civil Defence Act 1951 (Act 221) upon the independence of the state
- 1958 - Civil defence became a permanent and important element in national defence system in accordance with the Ninth Schedule Federal Constitution.
- 1964 - Civil Defence is extended to Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore following the Malaysia - Indonesia confrontation (Cabinet Paper No. 302/314/64), Singapore detachment would later form the basis of the Singapore Civil Defence Force
- 1965 - Membership increased to 36,000 members with 37 branches in addition to new logistics equipment at that time available for nationwide deployment in both peace and war
- 1970 - Staffing deployment throughout the country made in accordance with the provisions of the National Service Act 1952 to the floods which swept across the country.
- 1972 - Civil Defence Act 1951 was amended to perform the duties and role in peace time to carry out disaster relief services in addition to the wartime duties as defined by the Act
- 1993 - The collapse of Highland Tower in Hulu Kelang kickstarts the transformation and modernization of the Civil Defence organisation in Malaysia
Development era
- 1994 - Introduction of JPA 3 nickname to distinguish with the Department of Public Service and the Department of Civil Aviation.
- 1995 - 991 Emergency Hotline was launched on 20 May as a sign of commitment to the Civil Defence Department to provide 24-hour emergency assistance.
- 1996 - Department of Civil Defence Development Plan designed to fully equip all the logistics and infrastructure requirements in the rescue movement.
- 2000 - All state capital across the country and six branch offices were now using the 991 hotline system.
- 2000 - Physical Project Development Plan projects implemented by seven Central and State Civil Defence is placing 7th District, including two new training centre project.
- 2001 - Seven Civil Defence Centre projects at state and district levels approved for implementation in the RMK 8 to all state capitals on the peninsula will have complex administrative, operational and training.
- 2004 - Motto 'Selangkah Kehadapan' was introduced as the Civil Defence Department staff's commitment to give its best 'Delivery Service' to the public in accordance with the increase in staffing in the department.
- 2006 - Introduced the slogan "Ready, Fast and Integrity" as a catalyst for the Civil Defence Department into a department of excellence.
- 2008 - The nickname change from JPA 3 to JPAM was launched by the Director General of Civil Defence himself in March during the Civil Defence Day celebration held in Ipoh.
- 2008 - The Malaysian Government introduced the 'One Country One Number' program as the 999-line call centre to consolidate the emergency lines that are used by the Royal Malaysia Police, the Ministry of Health, Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Defence Department Malaysia.
- 2015 - Authority for JPAM affairs as a national institution passed from Ministry of Home Affairs to the Prime Minister's Department.
- 2016 - JPAM becomes the Malaysia Civil Defence Force and a new wave of modernization programs are approved to be part of the 10th Malaysia Plan.
Organisation
The National Headquarters encompasses all civil defence and search and rescue units nationwide, and reports to the Prime Minister's Department. As of 2017 Major General (R) Dato' Azmy Bin Yahya serves as its Chief Commissioner of Civil Defence.
The CDF is composed of:
- 14 State Commands
- 99 District Commands
- 55 Civil Defense Units
- and the Education and Training Command, comprising the Civil Defence Academy and the 3 Civil Defence Officer Cadet Schools
Rank insignia
Source:[1]
The rank system of the MCDF mirrors those used in the Singapore Civil Defence Force, but using the same civil grades as a government agency. In addition, an extra 3 ranks are used above Warrant Officer Class 1 and below Second Lieutenant, a singularity among uniformed forces.
| Rank | Insignia | Gorget |
|---|
| Other ranks |
| Private | | |
| Lance Corporal | | |
| Corporal | | |
| Sergeant | | |
| Warrant officer |
| Sergeant Major 2 | | |
| Sergeant Major 1 | | |
| Staff officer |
| Junior Staff | | |
| Senior Staff | | |
| Higher Staff | | |
| Officer corps |
| Second Lieutenant (CD) | | |
| Lieutenant (CD) | | |
| Captain (CD) | | |
| Major (CD) | | |
| Lieutenant Colonel (CD) | | |
| Colonel (CD) | | |
| Assistant Commissioner (CD) | | |
| Deputy Commissioner (CD) | | |
| Commissioner (CD) | | |
| Chief Commissioner (CD) | | | |
Current inventory
Source:[2]
Motorcycle
4x4
Truck
Ambulance
Boat
- 14' aluminium boat
- 17' fiber boat
- Sealegs amphibious boat[3]
References
- Web site: Pangkat dan Gelaran. 9 June 2015.
- Web site: APM: Malaysia Civil Defence Department .
- Web site: Malaysia makes order for 23 amphibious craft. Scoop.co.nz. 29 March 2017. 29 March 2017.
