17/09/2025
โขStrengthening Grassroots Justice and Emergency Preparedness: SJAM Sabah and U.S. Embassy Representatives Visit Mobile Courtโข
๐Kota Kinabalu โ Following their earlier visit to the St. John Ambulance of Malaysia, Sabah (SJAM Sabah), representatives from the U.S. Embassyโs Civil Military Support Element (CMSE) returned today for a follow-up engagement with State Commander Ng Ming Syoung. Together, they visited the Sabah Mobile Court program, exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation in the areas of justice, education, and community healthcare for rural and underserved areas.
The visiting U.S. delegation included: Christopher York(Team Leader), Brian Maclean(Team Sergeant), Shawn Hill(Project Manager) and Justus Simmons(Medical Instructor)
๐บMobile Court: Bringing Justice to Rural Communities
The Mobile Court, operated by the Sabah judiciary, regularly travels to remote villages to provide essential legal services such as assisting children in obtaining delayed or unregistered birth certificates, and addressing other basic legal needs of villagers. During discussions, the issue of a Mobile Court vehicle in Sandakan that has been out of service for a long period due to unavailable spare parts was highlighted. The U.S. representatives expressed willingness to assist in sourcing the parts, enabling the vehicle to be repaired and resume its vital services.
๐บCommunity Development: Education and Infrastructure
The visit also highlighted the needs of a rural primary school seeking to build a student hostel to ensure children from distant areas can attend school more conveniently. The U.S. side expressed interest in exploring ways to provide material and equipment support for this initiative, helping to create a better learning environment for the children.
๐บSJAM Sabah: Empowering Villagers with First Aid and AEDs
At the same time, SJAM Sabah reaffirmed its commitment to equip rural villagers and students with first aid knowledge. Recognizing the limited access to medical resources in remote areas, State Commander Ng proposed the installation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in strategic rural locations, with hopes of securing U.S. support in sourcing and donating the devices. This initiative would enable communities to respond effectively in emergencies and potentially save lives.
๐บToward Stronger International Cooperation
State Commander Ng emphasized that todayโs engagement reflects the expanding scope of collaboration between SJAM Sabah, the judiciary, and international partners. He noted that cooperation should go beyond emergency response, extending to justice, education, and holistic community resilience.
The U.S. representatives commended SJAM Sabahโs role at the grassroots level and reaffirmed their readiness to provide technical support, training, and humanitarian assistance to strengthen Sabahโs community resilience and development.
โค๏ธFuture Pathways
Both parties expressed interest in pursuing:
1. Technical assistance to repair and sustain Mobile Court operations;
2. Resource support for rural education facilities;
3. AED donations and community-based first aid training;
4. Deeper cooperation in disaster preparedness and grassroots healthcare.
In closing, SJAM Sabah once again reaffirmed its core mission โ โ โ โ pledging to continue working hand-in-hand with the judiciary, international partners, and local communities to ensure justice, education, and healthcare reach every corner of Sabah.
