KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 -- An allocation of RM24 million for contributions under the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO)’s Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) announced in the 2021 Budget yesterday can help protect the welfare of 200 maritime volunteers.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the scheme would provide insurance coverage to the agency’s volunteers who were also exposed to similar risks as other personnel in the security forces during training or while carrying out their duties.

“They are also exposed to the risk of accidents during boarding or exiting the ship and so on," he told Bernama.

Yesterday, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, when tabling the 2021 Budget, announced that the SOCSO Employment Injury Scheme said that the scheme would benefit 100,000 personnel including volunteers in the Malaysian Armed Forces, Malaysian Civil Defence Force and maritime.

In the meantime, Mohd Zubil also hoped that the increase in allocation for the Home Ministry to RM17 billion in  the 2021 Budget compared to RM16.9 billion in the previous year would enable ‘Op Benteng’ to be implemented effectively.

He said as for the MMEA, efforts to safeguard the country's waters depends on various aspects including the maintenance of the agency’s assets as well as infrastructure and the total allocation will enable the matter to be carried out effectively.

“On behalf of all MMEA staff, I would also like to express our appreciation for the announcement of special financial assistance amounting to RM600 for civil servants which will definitely increase the morale of members of this team in implementing the ongoing ‘Op Benteng’,” he said.

In a related development, Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said the increase in allowance for auxiliary firefighters (PBB) from RM6 to RM8 per hour, will boost the delivery of the services, especially in the field of emergency management.

“I thank the government for increasing the allowance from RM6 to RM8 per hour for more than 1,900 PBB personnel nationwide,” he said referring to the announcement on allowance increment made by Tengku Zafrul when tabling the 2021 Budget yesterday.

-- BERNAMA