Community Ambassadors to remind public to comply with SOP

SEPANG: Donning 'Duta Komuniti' or DK (Community Ambassadors) vests and hats, DK volunteers will be seen welcoming travellers to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) to remind them to adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The DK programme, coordinated by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM), is to ensure efforts to cultivate self-control among members of the community during the country's transition period to the endemic phase safely, as well as promote compliance with SOPs in line with the emphasis on community empowerment.

K-KOMM Strategic Communications Division officer Imran Ariff Mohd Amin said a total of 40 DK volunteers were stationed at KLIA and klia2 starting today, in conjunction with the reopening of the country's borders, to ensure compliance with SOPs.

"The volunteers involved will remind the travellers politely if they are found not wearing face masks properly and keeping a safe distance from each other," he told Bernama after inspecting DK volunteers involved in monitoring at KLIA here today.

He said the programme was expected to reach 30,000 volunteers by September so that their assignments could be expanded, such as in public areas including mosques and surau, to ensure that the community complied with the SOPs, especially the wearing of face masks as it was still mandatory.

He said the guidelines for DK volunteers were currently being developed, in collaboration with the Health Ministry, on the responsibilities as well as consistent reminder issuance.

Imran Ariff said that the DK programme comprises three phases.

The first phase involves providing training to the volunteers so that the outreach to the community is clear in raising awareness; the second phase ensures more people in the community are involved in the initiative, and the third phase ensures that each DK volunteer plays their respective role from time to time.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) Corporate Communications Division's general manager, Nik Anis Nik Zakaria, said that the DK programme was highly welcome as volunteers were needed in the busy airport, following the reopening of the country's borders starting today.

"DK volunteers at KLIA, who are also MAHB staff, will help the public to maintain self-discipline as well as assist the government in controlling the spread of COVID-19, especially at KLIA and klia2, which are expected to receive more travellers now," Nik Anis said.

-- BERNAMA