In conjunction with the upcoming Aidilfitri celebration, 3,144 members of the Civil Defence Department Malaysia (JPAM) will be on duty for Ops Bantu V from Aug 16 to 26.

In Ops Bantu, the JPAM members provide humanitarian services during the festive period along the federal and state roads with high accident rates.

In a statement, JPAM said Ops Bantu V this time would be extended to Sabah and Sarawak.

"This means, all 14 JPAM state and 71 district offices will be involved, covering 72 patrol routes.

"Overall, Ops Bantu V will also involve 124 patrol vehicles comprising 71 four-wheel-drive vehicles and 53 motorcycles, besides 111 ambulances on standby at the JPAM Operations Control Centre," the statement said.

Ops Bantu will operate 16 hours a day with two work shifts - 8am to 4pm and 4pm to midnight.

Among the duties in Ops Bantu are responding to emergency calls and providing first aid, patrolling the federal and state roads, assisting with minor repairs during vehicle breakdowns and in smoothening traffic flow.

- Bernama