Kuantan: The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) has handled over 12,000 coastal emergency cases since 2009, with the presence of beach lifeguards now seen as an urgent need, said its chief commissioner, Datuk Aminurrahim Mohamed. He emphasized the importance of lifeguards in ensuring safety along Malaysia's 4,800-kilometre coastline, where over 600 drowning cases are recorded annually.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Aminurrahim highlighted the significant role of APM as the third line of national security in disaster preparedness, search and rescue operations, and public education on emergency response. He stressed the need for APM beach lifeguards to continually improve tourist safety, enhance the country's image, and protect lives. He made these remarks during the opening ceremony of the Civil Defence Lifeguard Challenge (CDLC) 2025 at Teluk Cempedak Beach.
The Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, officiated the ceremony. Aminurrahim noted that the CDLC serves as a platform to assess the competence, discipline, and courage of beach lifeguards. The third edition of the CDLC, which began last Friday and concluded today, featured participation from 14 contingents of APM state and training centers, six government agency contingents, eight from the Civil Defense Student Corps, and eight from the Pahang Civil Defense School Cadets.
This year's event aimed to align rescue procedures with international professional standards, following the International Life Saving Federation guidelines. The competition included beach events such as Beach Sprint Relay, Beach Flag, Surf Board Relay, Run-Swim-Run, Ocean Endurance, Rescue Tube, and Rigid Inflatable Boat Race. The Sarawak contingent emerged victorious, winning RM4,000, followed by Kedah with RM3,000, and Sabah with RM2,000.
Sarawak APM contingent chief Captain (RMAF) Madihi Habib expressed satisfaction with his 31-member team's performance, noting that they were composed of new members selected at various levels. He emphasized the CDLC's importance in testing the efficiency, discipline, and response capabilities of beach lifeguards.