MIRI: The Sarawak Civil Defence Force completed the Cave Search and Rescue Exercise (C-SAREX) last Thursday.
APM chief commissioner (PA) Aminurrahman Mohamed as well as Sarawak APM director Abdul Wahab Rahman were present at the closing ceremony at Niah National Park.
An APM spokesman said the objective of the exercise was to improve the abilities of its Pasukan Khas Pertahanan Awam (PASPA) personnel at the highest level.
It said the exercise was done especially for personnel involved in search and rescue (SAR) operations in high-risk areas and dangerous locations.
The exercise involved personnel from the APM’s special team exchanging knowledge with the Niah forest rangers.
The ceremony ended with a demonstration by PASPA, followed by a presentation of certificates to the forest rangers and PASPA personnel and a presentation of souvenir to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) by Aminurrahman.
“I hope that PASPA will be given intensive exercises such as this inside and outside the country.
“It will surely improve the skills and the expertise of the personnel, and prepare them to face difficult challenges in various conditions or disasters.
“This also puts our special team on par with special teams from other rescue agencies, and be the best platform for the community as a reference in the event of a disaster,” said Aminurrahman.
Also present at the ceremony were Wild Life Controller Of National Park and Nature Reserves SFC director Oswald Breken Tisen and SFC officers.