WELCOME TO 9W2NIM BLOGSPOT...... WHERE HOBBIES & LEISURE MEET

Amateur Radio and Disaster Communication in Malaysian History

Amateur radio members (or fondly known as ham members), has been avtively involved in Disaster Communication support, since 1976, when the big flood hit Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Ham radio members were called to provide communication support when all other communications were cut off. In 11 December 1993, during the Highland Tower tragedy, ham radio members were again valled to assist and providing communication support between the disaster site and Kuala Lumpur General Hospital. The service provided by ham members was for a duration of 5 days, 24 hours a day. In 1994, fire broke out at the Subang International Airport Air Trafic Controller Tower. Ham Radio members were called to assists in communication between aircraft and ATIS - Air Trafic Information Service. While in 1997, Malaysian Civil Defense Department (JPA3) from Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, has requested support from ham radio members, in preparation of La Nina fenomena. A number of ham radio operators were prepared in strategic location, to assist in event of disaster strikes. In the month of February 1997, ham radio members was called to assist JPA3 from Negeri Sembilan, during search and rescue operation (SAR), with Royal Malaysian Police, Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM). This was conducted in search of missing Cesna aircraft, which crashed in the jungle of Mantin, Negeri Sembilan. An emergency communication station was set up to assist JPA3 between the crash site and JPA3 offices in Seremban and Kuala Lumpur. Fast forward to year 2002, the national Red Cresent Society has requested an emergency communication assistance between Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur, during a big flood that hit Kuantan. In year 2005, Radio HAM has giving assistance in relaying emergency messages from Banda Aceh, to Medan in Indonesia, during the Tsunami disaster that hits Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka and few other countries. In the month of December 2006, Mares together with Yayasan Salam, has organized more than 5 disaster relief operation, to assists the victims of flood in Segamat, Kluang, Yong Peng and Batu Pahat, in Johor. Besides providing emergency communication assistance, MARES has distribute food, clothing and emergency relief support to the victims. in December 2007, MARES also has been giving emergency communication assistance towards the flood relief center in Temerloh, Pahang, which was affected by the flood. MARES stands for "Malaysian Amateur Radio Emergency Service Society",

WELCOME TO 9W2NIM BLOGSPOT...... WHERE HOBBIES & LEISURE MEET

10 November 2008

1 comment: