St. John Ambulance of Malaysia
| File:SJAM Emblem.jpg Emblem of St. John Ambulance of Malaysia | |
| Abbreviation | SJAM |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1908 |
| Type | Statutory body incorporated under the St. John Ambulance of Malaysia (Incorporation) Act, 1972 |
| Headquarters | 41 Jalan Shelley 55100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia |
| Location |
|
Commander-in-Chief | Dato' Dr. Low Bin Tick, JP, KStJ |
| Website | http://www.sjam.org.my |
St. John Ambulance of Malaysia (Malay: St. John Ambulans Malaysia, Abbreviation: SJAM) is a Malaysian-based, non-profit statutory body dedicated to the works of humanity and charity for the relief of persons in sickness, distress, suffering or danger without any distinction of race, class, colour or creed. With a history stretching back over a century, SJAM forms part of the wider St. John Ambulance, a foundation of the Venerable Order of Saint John with presence in 41 sovereign states, dependencies, autonomies or territories.
History
The history of St. John Ambulance in the present day Malaysia started in 1908 with the formation of St. John Ambulance Association ("SJAA"); however, the movement was confined to the Army and the Railways till 1938. When the war clouds were gathering in 1938, the authorities decided to form the St. John Ambulance Brigade ("SJAB") in all larger states. Brigade members were first recruited as stretcher-bearers. Once they were proficient, they attended first aid lectures. In 1941, regular meetings and air raid practices were held.[1]
In September 1941, the authorities introduced the Medical Auxiliary Service and all Brigade members were automatically drafted into this service. When the Japanese Forces raided the Malay Peninsular from 8 December 1941, the Brigade members did magnificent work in all the first aid posts. Many Brigade members withdrew to the south together with the British Forces as their towns were captured one after another by the Japanese Forces. Many more served in the Battle of Singapore and lost their lives for the Service of Mankind. St. John Ambulance was the only voluntary organisation in the Malay Peninsular that rendered medical services before and during the Second World War.[1]
The return of the British after the end of the Second World War has resulted in the re-organisation of many institutions and that contributed to the expansion of SJAA and SJAB to all states by 1959.
In a move to further strengthen the operations of SJAA and SJAB, particularly after the independence of Malaya in 1957 and the subsequent merger between Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak (to form Malaysia) in 1963, the Government of Malaysia decided to amalgamate SJAA and SJAB in Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak into one Corporation known as the St. John Ambulance of Malaysia. This was made possible with the passing of the St. John Ambulance of Malaysia (Incorporation) Act, 1972 by the Federal Parliament. The Royal Assent was granted on 23 March 1972.[2]
Leadership and Governance
The present leadership and governance structure of SJAM was established following the enactment of St. John Ambulance of Malaysia (Incorporation) Act, 1972 (including its subsidiary legislations).
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the Royal Patron of SJAM.[3] The appointment is currently held by the reigning monarch, Al-Sultan Sir Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbudin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, KStJ.
The affairs of SJAM are governed by the St. John Council of Malaysia,[2] presided by the National President and the Deputy National President. By law, the roles are automatically conferred to the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Minister of Health, Malaysia respectively and, they are respectively held by Dato' Sri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak and Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai at present. Membership of the Council consists of principal officers of SJAM, representatives from various Federal ministries and agencies, as well as individuals of high standing who are independent.
Day-to-day management affairs rests with the Commander-in-Chief, who is also the Chairman of Council.
Organisational Structure
SJAM is headed by a Commander-in-Chief. Appointed by the National President, he is responsible to the Council as the chief executive of the Corporation, assisted by a Deputy Commander-in-Chief. The appointment of Commander-in-Chief is currently held by Dato' Dr. Low Bin Tick, JP, KStJ whereas his deputy is Datuk Dr. Megat Burhainuddin bin Megat Abdul Rahman, CStJ.
SJAM has two main areas of activity, as follows:
- Operations: SJAM provides volunteer first aid services at events and emergencies. In metropolitan areas, SJAM provides emergency medical assistance service through a combination of paid staff and volunteers. As the service wing of SJAM, the Operations Wing is responsible for the training, development and management of volunteers in first aid and pre-hospital care. The Operations Wing at the National Headquarters is headed by Dato' Lai See Ming, CStJ, Chief-of-Staff (Operations).
- Training:: SJAM is a leading first aid training provider in Malaysia. The Training Wing offers a wide range of training programme on first aid and advanced topics to the public besides providing technical assistance to support the training and development needs and quality assessments of the Operations Wing. The Training Wing at the National Headquarters is headed by Dato' Dr. Lee Hoo Teong, CStJ, Chief-of-Staff (Training).
The SJAM National Headquarters, based in Kuala Lumpur, oversees the activities of SJAM in the whole of Malaysia. The organisation is then divided into 14 States/Region, each having their own State/Regional Headquarters. With the exception of the Region of Wilayah Persekutuan (Federal Territory, consisting the cities of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya), all other states are divided into Areas (each with an Area Headquarters) to smoothen the coordination process amongst Divisions and the State Headquarters due to geographical factors. Grassroots volunteers are grouped into Divisions.
With the exception of a handful of paid staff, all other personnel in SJAM, including the principal officers at the National Headquarters, are volunteers.
Membership
Membership in SJAM is open to all individuals of good characther, good physique and medically fit between 17 and 65 years of age. SJAM accepts suitable and interested individuals from all walks of life but passing the Basic First Aid examination is a pre-requisite before an individual is recognised of having attained the minimum competency to be a uniformed volunteer. First aid training and induction courses are provided to all prospective volunteers free of charge.
SJAM is led by volunteers appointed to functional roles. While all new volunteers would usually be admitted at the basic rank of Ambulance Member (male) or Nursing Member (female), a higher rank may be subsequently assigned, as appropriate, based on respective functional appointments to describe a formal grade within the organisation conferring authority.
Skills
Volunteers are provided with progressive training and re-training opportunities and can complete a number of first aid qualifications. Training for basic to intermediate skill sets are usually provided at Divisional-level, whereas training for additional and enhanced skills such as ambulance driving and handling, management of mass-casualty incidents, as well as the use of an automated external defibrillator ("AED") are centrally conducted by suitable qualified trainers at the State/Regional Headquarters or Area Headquarters.
Healthcare Professionals
Whilst the majority of volunteers in SJAM are non-healthcare professionals, SJAM welcomes the involvement of healthcare professionals such as Medical Practitioners, Paramedics, Nurses and Medical Assistants to volunteer. Unlike the rest, healthcare professionals do not require to demonstrate their competency through attaining first aid certificates, but their qualifications and professional status are checked with the appropriate regulatory body before admission to SJAM. Healthcare professionals are required for tasks appropriate to their technical competencies during operational duties, as well as training for other volunteers in certain enhanced skills.
Developing Human Capital
Suitably experienced volunteers, upon demonstrating outstanding competency in Advanced First Aid, may be chosen to be developed as First Aid Trainers. Chosen candidates will undergo development, exposure and assessment in methodology of training before being accredited as First Aid Trainers. Volunteers with such accreditation are entrusted to facilitate training and re-training activities for other volunteers, as well as first aid courses for the public.
Relevant training activities targeting on management, administration and leadership are also provided to volunteers appointed to functional roles. Many volunteers argued that their experience in SJAM, coupled with such exposures, have somewhat given an edge to their career.
Operations Wing
Consistent with its motto and objectives, SJAM offers a wide range of first aid and pre-hospital care services to the public through its Operations Wing, mostly provided free of charge.
Public Duty
SJAM volunteers attend thousands of events across the country every year, covering a variety of public events such as marathons and other sporting events, parades, public gatherings, and concerts, providing first aid to the sick and injured. Such service is provided free at the point of delivery, although a charge may be levied on the event organiser for attendance at commercial events. The provision of services during public duties are not limited to first aid; ambulances are provided in most events for rapid transportation. Where necessary, SJAM may also provide healthcare professionals to provide assistance at mobile treatment centres.
Due to its commendable and consistent track record, SJAM has also been deployed to render aid to the sick and wounded in many difficult situations; more recently, the Bersih Rally[4] and HINDRAF Rally, both occurred in Kuala Lumpur in 2007. SJAM volunteers have acted professionally and neutrally, and provided relief without any distinction of race, class, colour or creed.
Transport Duty
SJAM is certified by the Malaysian Book of Records as the voluntary organisation with the largest fleet of ambulances in Malaysia. All ambulances are commissioned for active transport duties of the following nature:
Emergency Medical Assistance Service ("EMAS")
SJAM provides support to the Ministry of Health's statutory ambulance service in metropolitan areas, responding to 999 calls and assisting during times of major incidents. From its humble beginning in Kuala Lumpur and greater Klang Valley on 10 September 1998, EMAS has now been extended statewide in Selangor and Penang, and selected cities and towns in Kedah, Perak, Johor and Sabah.
Expressway Emergency Ambulance Service
Motor vehicle accidents rate is significantly higher during major festivities due to the balik kampung (home return) rush. Many incidents along the expressways and highways became fatal due to delays in pre-hospital care. Since 1996, SJAM began stationing ambulances and volunteers at strategic locations along expressways and major highways during major festivities as one of its efforts to ensure quicker response to such incidents.
Non-emergency Transport Service
The large fleet of ambulances is also used in the provision of non-emergency transport service, transferring patients with limited mobility and/or requiring care during the journey to every part of the country, as well as into neighbouring countries (Singapore and Thailand), where land crossing permits.
Training Wing
The services of Training Wing is 2-prong. Besides providing support to the Operations Wing through the formulation of curriculum and provision of technical training/assessment, the Training Wing is also responsible in addressing the first aid learning and education needs of the public.
External Courses
SJAM runs first aid courses for external individuals and organisations in return for a modest fee. SJAM has assisted many commercial establishments in training their employees as first aiders based on the popular First Aid at Work syllabus.
Diploma in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care
SJAM, in collaboration with the Open University Malaysia ("OUM") contemplates to develop a 3-year Diploma programme in pre-hospital emergency care using the blended pedagogy of face-to-face learning, online participation of learners to interact with tutors and their peers, self learning through a module and relevant materials in OUM's Tan Sri Abdullah Sanusi Digital Library and attachments at SJAM's EMAS in various parts in Malaysia as well as in hospitals. This programme, recognised by the Malaysian Quality Agency and the Ministry of Higher Education, is designed to address the acute and urgent need to develop a sophisticated pre-hospital care system in Malaysia to upgrade knowledge and skills of emergency medical technicians.[5] The first intake for this programme is expected to take place in mid-2010.
Capacity Building
Among the initiatives of the Training Wing in support of capacity building efforts in pre-hospital care systems in Malaysia are as follows:
Clinical Skill Lab
The construction of an in-house Clinical Skill Lab is currently in-progress. The proposed Clinical Skill Lab, to be fitted with state-of-the-art facilities to facilitate training in pre-hospital care, is expected to be ready in time for the first batch of students of the SJAM-OUM Diploma in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care programme.
National Open Pre-Hospital Care Competition
SJAM also promotes continuous learning through healthy competitions of knowledge and skills between pre-hospital care providers in Malaysia. The National Open Pre-Hospital Care Competition is a relatively new initiative championed by SJAM to bring together pre-hospital care providers, both paid personnel and volunteers, from all over the country to compete in a scenario-based competition.[6][7] The inaugural competition, held at Penang in December 2009, attracted participation of 10 teams, including 5 non-SJAM teams. Overall standing in the inaugural competition was as follows:
- Champion (winner of Tuan RS Gurcharan Singh Challenge Trophy): SJAM Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang Combined Adult Division, Wilayah Persekutuan
- First Runner-up: SJAM Kuala Lumpur Pudu Combined Adult Division, Wilayah Persekutuan
- Second Runner-up: SJAM Emergency Medical Assistance Service, Penang (Team A)
Other Services to the Community
Besides the main areas of services, SJAM also provides various services to the community; some are specific to local needs. Among them:
- Haemodialysis Service: SJAM operates a total of 18 Haemodialysis Centres across the country, providing affordable services to patients with renal failure from the underprivileged group in various parts of Selangor, Malacca, Penang, Perak, Pahang and Sarawak.
- Geriatric Care: SJAM runs a Nursing Home for the Elderly in Taiping, Perak.
- Free Medical Consultation: SJAM operates a clinic which operates for 3 hours on selected Sundays at Bandar Hilir, Malacca, providing free medical consultation to the underprivileged.
Rank Insignia
Officers
-
Royal Patron -
National President -
Deputy National President -
Commander-in-Chief -
Deputy Commander-in-Chief -
Chief-of-Staff -
Hon. Secretary-General
Chief Superintendent
Regional/State Commander -
Principal Staff Officer
Deputy Regional/State Commander -
Staff Officer Grade I
Regional/State Superintendent
Area Commander -
Staff Officer Grade II
Area Superintendent -
Staff Officer Grade III -
Staff Officer Grade IV
Divisional Superintendent -
Staff Officer Grade V
Divisional Officer -
Staff Officer Grade VI
Acting Divisional Officer
Other Ranks
-
National Sergeant-Major -
Regional/State Sergeant-Major -
Area Sergeant-Major -
Corps Sergeant-Major -
Staff Sergeant -
Sergeant -
Corporal -
Lance Corporal -
Ambulance Member
Nursing Member
SJAM Uniform
With traditions and customs inherited from the SJAB, SJAM is somewhat paramilitary in its protocol and image and hence, SJAM volunteers is recognisable by its distinct white-and-black uniform. Volunteers are required to wear uniform to provide services, both for identification and to present a professional image. Unlike the uniform of other volunteer organisations in Malaysia, SJAM uniform is protected by the law, and may only be worn by volunteers who have been certified to have at least the minimum competency to be a uniformed personnel.
There are presently three orders of dress intended for different situations, as follows:
- Uniform No. 1: Ceremonial Uniform, an elaborate uniform worn during ceremonial occasions only.
- Uniform No. 2: Duty Uniform, a basic operational uniform suitable for all types of duties, as well as parades and formations.
- Uniform No. 3: Mess Dress, an evening dress worn at formal occasions.
Uniform No. 2 is the most widely used among the three. Yellow/green two-tone high visibility garments are sometimes worn over Uniform No. 2 for outdoor events for safety and ease of identification. For Officers, there are two variants of Uniform No. 2. Beret is worn during operational duties only, whereas Peaked Cap (male) or Bowler's Hat (female) are used in Uniform No. 2 in events other than operational duties.
For training and informal events, Training Order (consisting white SJAM polo T-shirt and black trousers similar to Uniform No. 2) is worn. On rare occasions (subject to waiver instructions), Training Order is also used for operational duties, but it is usually invoked during disasters which requires rapid mobilisation and deployment of volunteers, or when long hours of stand-by is required or expected.
While Officers are expected to maintain all of the orders of dress as discussed above, Uniforms No. 1 and 3 remains optional to the members of other ranks (Staff Sergeant and below).
See also
References
- ^ a b http://www.orderofstjohn.org/malaysia
- ^ a b http://www.commonlii.org/my/legis/consol_act/sjaoma1972410
- ^ http://www.malaysianmonarchy.org.my/portal_bi/rk1/rk1.htm
- ^ http://minda-kembara.blogspot.com/2007/11/hawker-police-broke-my-knee-during.html
- ^ http://sonahs.oum.edu.my/index.php?op=view&m=2&page=47
- ^ http://www.sjampenang.org.my/phc09
- ^ http://emergencywebnotes.blogspot.com/2010/01/tuan-rs-gurcharan-singh-challenge.html
External links
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