THIRTY-EIGHT Orang Asli have been appointed as Civil Defence Force (APM) forest rangers to help the Forestry Department monitor illegal clearing and occupation of forest areas in Kelantan.

APM chief commissioner Azmy Yahya said recruitment would be expanded to Terengganu, Pahang, and Perak.

“The number of Orang Asli forest rangers will be increased from time to time. They’ll be the eyes and ears for the government against encroachment of forest land in their areas,” he said at the launch of the Gua Musang APM Volunteer Squad by Gua Musang lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in Gua Musang last night.

Azmy said community volunteer squads would be set up nationwide, with members comprising local community leaders and residents.

Squad members would be given basic rescue training, he said, adding that the number of APM members would be increased to three million this year from 2.1 million. – Bernama, March 23, 2018.