OPS PRIHATIN: 2,364 APM MEMBERS DEPLOYED TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) has deployed 2,364 personnel nationwide under Ops Prihatin in conjunction with this year’s Chinese New Year and Aidilfitri celebrations.

In a statement today, APM said the operation involved personnel from 14 state offices and 197 district offices, as well as the Civil Defence Unit, conducting patrols on major federal and state roads and at key locations.

It said Ops Prihatin 2026 is being implemented in two phases, with the first phase running from Feb 13 to 22, and the second scheduled from March 19 to 29 in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebrations.

“The objective of this operation is to assist road users, disaster victims, and those affected by emergencies throughout the festive season. In addition to patrolling, our officers also act as first responders in the event of road accidents.

“Op Prihatin is defined as an initiative to enhance public service through humanitarian assistance, including responding to fallen trees, carrying out minor vehicle repairs, and providing civil defence advisory services to the community,” the statement said.

The launch ceremony for the Central Zone operation took place today in Putrajaya, following similar events for the Eastern Zone on Feb 11 and the Northern Zone on Feb 12.

The operation also saw APM members patrolling high-risk disaster areas as well as public venues frequented by visitors, including resorts, shopping malls and places of worship.

As part of its road safety education campaign, APM also distributed stickers for vehicles and motorcycles to members of the public.

The public is reminded to always put safety first, ensure their vehicles are well-maintained, and comply with speed limits.

In the event of an emergency, members of the public are advised to contact the 999 emergency line or use the “Save Me 999” application for immediate assistance.

--BERNAMA