'Superman' to the rescue? Mat rempit being considered for Melaka motorcycle ambulance team

MELAKA: An ambitious plan to recruit mat rempit as part of the motorcycle ambulances team is currently being studied, says Kol (PA) Mike Thein.

The chairman of Melaka Civil Defence Force's (CDF) Associate Corporate Officers category said a working paper to recruit these motorcycle groups was underway so that they would be useful to society.

"Training will be provided for these motorcyclists to perform basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and life support skills as well as delivery of food to flood victims before the full-fledged team arrives at an emergency scene," he said on Sunday (June 4).

Thein, who has been a volunteer with CDF for two decades, said he would also unveil two-wheeler emergency services in hard-to-reach tourist destinations in the city.

He said a two-wheeler paramedic team would be carrying life-saving equipment and first-aid kits and would be able to respond to a medical emergency much faster than a car or van in heavy traffic.

"The "mat rempit" would act as a reinforcement for two-wheeler paramedics.

"I intend to provide an opportunity to the group in turning them into volunteers for a noble cause and proposed this detail in my working paper," he said.

Thein (second from right in APM uniform) with trainees of the water rescue course.

Thein said the two-wheeler team (a mix of both motorcycle and bicycle) would also ensure swifter responses in situations at tourist spots and there would be six volunteers in each team.

He said the setting up of the team would be modelled based on the advice from relevant departments and the goal was to reduce response times in busy stretches and flood-hit areas.

Thein also said that dozens of CDF volunteers and even outsiders had been trained in water rescue techniques.

He said the training was aimed to intensify preparedness in case of likely flooding and other natural calamities.

Thein said the training was first started by Seafarer Explorer in Klebang here before incorporating CDF's modules.

He said the water rescue training would intensify the preparations to tackle any untoward situations as well as handling boats.

"We are also hoping to get assistance from the state government to allocate a site along the beachfront as our water rescue hub and to place our rescue boats," he added.