IF there is one key takeaway from the interview with outgoing Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Penang director Lt Kol Cuthbert John Martin Quadra, it would be to make every moment count.
Cuthbert has been serving the force for 11 years. His service in Penang is rather short (about 14 months to be exact), yet, it is during one of the most challenging periods of all times.
“I had served in Kuala Lumpur, my home state Sabah, and Sarawak before I was transferred to Penang.
“I came to Penang at the end of 2019, just a few months before the devastating Covid-19 pandemic hit our country,” he told Buletin Mutiara today.
Cuthbert said the pandemic has taught the people the meaning of humility.
“We have seen how the Covid-19 had transformed us. It came so fast. We have experienced a period before the pandemic arrived and even now as we try to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
“We have seen how the country struggled to prepare the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to keep the people safe, how the operations became more systematic and organised, and how the rakyat adapted and are adapting to the new normal.
“It is true that everyone has to play its role to win this war against Covid-19. We are all frontliners.
“Kita berdiri sama tinggi, duduk sama rendah (everyone is the same),” Cuthbert, who is turning 46 on March 20 this year, said.
He said that he would treasure his time in Penang for the rest of life.
Cuthbert will be heading the Melaka APM team as a director starting Feb 1 this year.
Kol Ishak Md Radzi, who was serving in Perlis, is replacing Cuthbert as the new Penang APM director. He reported for duty on Jan 25, a few days before Cuthbert leaves so as to familiarise himself with his scope of work in Penang.
“I am very happy to be given the opportunity to work alongside the Penang government and the various agencies during my time here. We have a very solid team in Penang.
“The motivation and the advice given were tremendous. I will treasure them and will carry with me to my future endeavours,” he said.
Cuthbert also thanked his dedicated APM team in Penang.
“Besides performing our core responsibilities, we are working together with the police, health authorities, army, Rela, the local governments, as well as other departments and agencies to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“We take part in roadblocks, joint operations at public markets, the transfer of visitors from the Penang International Airport (PIA) to the Covid-19 quarantine centres and others.
“Penang APM is also the chief secretariat of the state disaster management committee,” he said.
Cuthbert said the ongoing pandemic has taken a toll on his team.
“To be honest, we are tired. But our work is not done.
“We must show the people that it is important to obey the SOPs and we can do it,” he said.
Cuthbert urged his team to persevere and diligently serve the people.
“It is a challenging journey. Remember that our fatigue is secondary, and our service comes first,” he added.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis