PADAWAN: A total of 200 PGA (General Operations Force) officers comprising 150 officers and 50 senior officers completed their General Operations Force (PGA) Basic Course Series 1/2017 at PULAPOL (Police Training Centre) at Jalan Puncak Borneo near here, yesterday.
The three-month course which commenced on 5 April, 2017 ended yesterday.
The passing out parade was officiated at by Sarawak PGA Brigade Commander, SAC Dato’ Khaw Kok Chin.
“This basic training is to provide exposure, skills and knowledge relating to the duty and responsibility as personnel of the General Operations Force. Among the skills are war insurgency module, operation techniques, direction and civil peace module. As for the senior officers, they were exposed to briefing and command module.
“In part, rappelling and abseiling module was also taught in the course since GOF personnel are involved in search and rescue duty, for instance, plane crashes, boat capsized at sea or river, searching for people who has gone astray in the forest and rescue disaster victims,” said Khaw.
Khaw also said that GOF is a semi-military force where the senior officers and personnel are well trained as well as multi-capable and have field craft skills where they can be deployed anytime to eliminate any threat that can jeopardise the country’s sovereignty.
“This force will be deployed at the borders and some will be sent to Sabah to assist in securing our border at sea,” he said.
During the ceremony Khaw also presented four awards namely Best Trainee in shooting, Best Trainee in physical training, Best Trainee in theory exam and Best Overall Trainee for both the officers and senior officers.
In the senior officers category, the Best Trainee in shooting award and Best Trainee in theory exam award were won by Hamzah Harun from PGA Tawau, the Best Trainee in physical training award was won by Azman Wahab from PGA Pulapol Kuching, and the Best Overall Trainee award was won by Champin Piuh from Sabah PGA Brigade Headquarters.
In the officers category, the Best Trainee in shooting award was won by Mohd Amirrol Osman from PGA Beluran, the Best Trainee in physical training award was won by Mohamad Saiful Asmawi Mohamad Noor from PGA Sandakan, Best Trainee in theory exam award was won by Ahmad Shah Nuri Abdullah from PGA Beluran while the Best Overall Trainee award was won by Muhamad Hazwan Azizi from PGA Sandakan.
