Putrajaya: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has proposed raising the daily allowance for Civil Defence Force (APM) volunteers from RM40 to RM80. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Chairman of the National Disaster Committee, expressed his commitment to pushing this proposal to the Cabinet.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid stated, ‘I have advocated for this proposal at the Cabinet level. Insya-Allah, my colleagues, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Minister of Communications Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, are supporting the effort to ensure APM volunteers receive the RM80 daily allowance.’ He made these remarks during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Civil Defence Month celebrations. The proposal aligns with the critical roles APM volunteers play, especially during the Northeast Monsoon season when their responsibilities increase significantly.

Ahmad Zahid also commended the APM volunteers for their involvement in the search and rescue operations following the gas pipe explosion in Putra Heights, Selangor, last week. ‘On April 1, the APM volunteers were on the front lines in the aftermath of the gas leak, and even though I couldn’t be on-site myself, their dedication was evident,’ he added.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid announced that the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), which was sent to Myanmar as part of the Malaysian Humanitarian Aid Mission (MAS-01), will be awarded certificates in recognition of their dedication during the Aidilfitri celebrations. A total of 50 SMART officers and personnel from the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) travelled to Naypyidaw, Myanmar, on March 30, to assist in the search and rescue operations following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the country.

The earthquake’s death toll has risen to at least 3,514, with 210 people still missing, according to Myanmar’s military government. The majority of victims were from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, where over 2,100 deaths have been confirmed.