SUNGAI PETANI, Sept 23 — The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) is encouraging youths in the country to register themselves as volunteers under Skuad Sukarelawan Anak Malaysia (SATRIA) and be ready to serve during floods.
Its Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the volunteer team had been created long ago by the Youth and Sports Department and was only recently rebranded as SATRIA to show its appreciation to KBS volunteers.
“We changed its name because previously they were called volunteers, so we wanted to honour the nation’s unsung heroes and the name SATRIA (warrior) seems appropriate and accurate.
“They will go down to the ground to assist during disasters, including when floods occur. We will provide them with training and exposure to ensure the SATRIA movement is systematic and structured,” he told reporters here today.
Earlier, he attended the launching of the National Prihatin Carnival 2022 at Dataran Amanjaya Mall here by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
He said that, so far, over 300,000 youths had registered to become KBS volunteers and it hoped that more will sign up to join SATRIA.
“They won’t be helping out during disasters only, it also involves other programmes. For example, a total of 700 SATRIA members were mobilised to assist in the hosting of the nine-day Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2022, which ends tomorrow (Sept 24).
“I have not set any targets on the number of youths joining SATRIA but the more the better so that we can all be involved in fardhu kifayah (communal responsibility) and help the community in distress,” he said.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Sanusi said the state government was fully prepared to face the possibility of any disasters occurring during the coming monsoon season.
“We are prepared, just like in previous years, based on the instructions of the National Security Council (MKN) and the State Secretary (SUK) will manage the operations room if a disaster occurs,” he said.
