JERANTUT: The Pahang government has chosen to prioritise the strengthening of volunteer capabilities over increasing the number of volunteers in the state.
According to a report by Media Pahang, State Communications and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and Non-governmental Organisations Committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal emphasised the goal of developing versatile volunteers in Pahang.
"The registered number (of volunteers) is insufficient to cover the entire community in Pahang. However, we are making concerted efforts to encourage more youth participation, especially in volunteer activities.
"I do not want a large number (of volunteers) who ultimately lack quality. Therefore, it is better for them to go through training processes like these so that we can produce volunteers who are of quality and truly understand the roles they have to play," he was quoted as saying.
He shared these views while officiating the closing ceremony of the Satria In Action (SACTION) Pahang 2024 programme at Lang Buana Eco Park, Ulu Cheka.
In the report, Fadzli also highlighted that volunteers are divided into various types, and mastering diverse skills can facilitate their duties.
"Like my colleagues and I, we are disaster volunteers, which is different from environmental volunteers.
"When planting trees in forested and hilly areas, we are not accustomed, and ultimately we cannot do like environmental volunteers," he elaborated, underscoring the importance of skill and knowledge in effective volunteering.
"This knowledge and these skills are crucial. Hence, volunteers need to go through these processes first. Later we will mobilise them in the field and produce quality volunteers, even if the numbers are currently small," he added.
