The Star News. Saturday April 4, 2009
KLUANG: The MCA’s National Crisis Relief Squad (CRSM) is looking into the possibility of moving from politics to becoming a full-fledged uniformed body.
CRSM chairman Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said they hoped to turn the squad into a body where the leaders were chosen based on merit instead of being appointed by MCA state and division chiefs.
“Therefore, the leaders will be selected according to their rankings, as what is implemented by other NGOs like the St John Ambulance and Red Crescent Society,” she said.
Chew added that they were studying the possibility of transforming the squad into a professional organisation that was associated with MCA.
“We will ensure that our members carry out their duties without a hidden political agenda,” she said, explaining that the organisation had nothing to do with politics.
She added that it was more difficult for CRSM to reach out to help those in need because the public would always relate the squad with MCA and felt that the assistance was given because the party wanted their votes.
Chew was speaking to reporters after launching an anti- dengue seminar held at SJK(C) Ping Ming in Kluang recently.
She said CRSM would also establish a community disaster reduction system where they would train the leaders on disaster prevention and how to reduce the impact of disasters.
“We will also provide them with post disaster training,” she said, adding that the leaders should also have a wide network within their local community, especially the relevant authorities that could assist the squad in their disaster relief operations.
Chew said that training conducted by the National Science and Technology Centre for Diasater Reduction from Taiwan would be held in Sungai Lembing in Pahang on April 24 to 26.
She explained that Sungai Lembing was chosen as the training location as it was known as a flood prone area.
There are about 500 CRSM members in Johor.
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