Waja Squad module will be improved

PUTRAJAYA: The Waja Squad module will be improved next year with the addition of intermediate and advanced level support skills for Empathy, Attention, Response, Support (E.A.R.S), Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said.

She said the Waja Squad module currently used to train volunteers was for the application of knowledge regarding basic support skills, including E.A.R.S and Psychological First Aid (PFA).

It is a new module developed by the Women's Development Department with assistance from the Social Institute of Malaysia (ISM) at the end of last year and was used in Jan 2021 to train volunteers, she said.

"The module has been turned into a book and registered with the National Library with the registration code, e ISBN 978-983-44158-5-3 in Year 2021 (first edition)," she added.

The Waja Squad was founded on March 8 in conjunction with Women's Day celebrations to empower the community through pyschosocial and guidance activities to increase awareness on crime.

Rina's statement today served as feedback to Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh's claim made during the debate session at yesterday's Dewan Rakyat sitting alleging that the Waja Squad was an existing programme and not new under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM).

Rina said as of Nov 11 (2021), 100,002 Waja Squad members, 93,145 women and 6,857 men from various backgrounds, were successfully trained.

-- BERNAMA