KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 2): The Malaysian Civil Defence Force has requested that the government consider 1,501 contract positions nationwide to complete the agency's assignment requirements.

Its chief commissioner Aminurrahim Mohamed said currently, the Civil Defence Force has a strength of 10,500 personnel including volunteers.

He said the additional members are needed as Malaysians have the knowledge and are keen to join the Civil Defence Force.

“The Civil Defence Force has a section that allows honorary officers, associates and volunteers to help with rescue operations,” he said.

Aminurrahim said this to Bernama at the Civil Defence Force Platinum Decade and Chinese New Year celebrations at the agency’s headquarters here on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, the Civil Defence Force has submitted a full report on the officers' and members’ assignments during the Batang Kali landslide incident on Dec 16 last year.

Aminurrahim said the report included the ratio of the movement of the Civil Defence Force components during the incident for the review of the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

He said during the incident, the Civil Defence Force mobilised rescue personnel according to the membership ratio contained in the Civil Defence Platinum Decade Document (DPPA) 2022-2032, which is one permanent officer, two associate officers and 60 community members.

“The review will determine the operating costs that the government can save, compared with deploying permanent officers and members,” he said.

DPPA 2022-2032 which was launched on Oct 12 last year, is aimed to drive the Civil Defence Force's direction in the next 10 years and to further strengthen its services.

The Dec 16 landslide tragedy that occurred at 2.42am at the Father's Organic Farm, Gohtong Jaya, claimed 31 lives while 61 survived.

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