SEARCCT, in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA), CBRNE Unit of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) Armaments Division, Nuclear Biological Chemical Defence (NBCD) of the 3rd Division of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Ministry of Health (MOH), Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) and Chemistry Department had successfully organised the “Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNe) Advanced First Responder Training Programme” at the Akademi Bomba dan Penyelamat Wakaf Tapai, Terengganu from 26 June to 6 July 2018. It witnessed the involvement of 33 participants from various relevant first responder agencies. Ms. Mazita Marzuki, Deputy Director General of SEARCCT, officiated the nine-day seminar.
The objectives of the programme were to provide participants with advanced knowledge on CBRNe’s threats, as well as Malaysia’s CBRNe Model of multi-agencies emergency response in handling threats. Speakers who steered the workshop were SEARCCT’s established local trainers from the RMP, MOH, Malaysia Armed Forces, Chemistry Department of Malaysia, BOMBA and Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).
The programme was conducted to expose participants to advanced CBRNe subjects, managing post-attack situations to emergency decontamination on multi-agency operations, as well as familiarise themselves with CBRNe’s detection equipment and procedures as first responders. This has provided the participants with an insight to the significance of understanding the roles of each agency and the need for swift coordination in the event of CBRNe incidents.
Overall, the programme was a beneficial platform for participants to obtain advanced knowledge on CBRNe as well as an avenue to exchange views, experience and possible solutions on best ways to address related issues and to collaborate in times of need.