Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) has become the first local authority in the country to establish a community-based rapid response team.
Pasukan Komuniti or PKOM will liaise directly with MBSJ’s Skuad Pantas (Quick Response Team) which acts as an initial unit to handle emergency and disaster cases such as flash floods and fallen trees.
Subang Jaya mayor Datuk Amirul Azizan Abd Rahim launched PKOM during MBSJ’s Disaster Resilient Community Seminar at a community hall in USJ7, Subang Jaya.
Also present was deputy mayor Mohd Zulkurnain Che Ali.
The event brought together representatives of security agencies, technical departments, councillors, residents representative council (MPP) and community leaders.
The inaugural PKOM cohort consists of 86 members comprising nine local councillors serving as zone leaders alongside 77 community volunteers drawn from nine MPP zones under MBSJ’s purview.
The nine councillors coordinating PKOM in their respective zones are Muhammad Khairil Khalid (Zone 7), Ahmad Umar Khair Zainuddin (Zone 8), Ng Seow Chen (Zone 10), Muhammad Fauzan Rosli (Zone 12), Lee Jen Uyin (Zone 16), Thamilarusu Sandayan (Zone 17), Saidin Awang (Zone 19), Nursyaheera Abdul Ghafar (Zone 20) and Tey Boon Kiat (Zone 21).
“PKOM’s establishment was inspired by the participation of a Selangor government delegation in the ‘Professional Training in Taiwan 2.0: Disaster Risk Management and Resilience’ programme,” MBSJ’s Corporate and Strategic Management Department said in a statement.
“Based on that experience, MBSJ translated the approach into PKOM to strengthen early response capabilities and bolster cooperation between the council, relevant agencies and local residents.
“PKOM functions as an official platform connecting communities with MBSJ to accelerate information sharing, implement early on-ground action, support situation assessments and streamline aid distribution.
“The team will work closely with Skuad Pantas during floods, landslides, storm-related fallen trees, fires and other emergencies to mitigate the risk to life and property,” it added.
To ensure operational efficiency, all PKOM members will undergo training covering disaster management, safety protocols, emergency communications, risk assessment and operational coordination.
