KUCHING: Thirty-three firefighters from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) have been recognised with the 2024 Bomba Service Medal in appreciation of their dedication and contributions.
At the ceremony, 23 personnel received the Pingat Cemerlang Bomba (PCB), nine received the Pingat Setia Bomba (PSB), and one received the Pingat Jasa Bomba (PJB).
Director-General of Bomba, Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad, said the awards aim to maintain high morale among officers by giving due recognition for their service.
“This is part of our effort to ensure that our officers remain motivated through such acknowledgements,” he said at a press conference after officiating at the 2024 Bomba Service Medal Presentation Ceremony at Dewan Utama, Wisma Wanita today.
Nor Hisham also said that the Body Mass Index (BMI) criterion is now applied in the selection process for medals, promotions, and the Excellent Service Award (APC), and that all members of Bomba have been reminded to maintain a BMI below 30 or risk being ineligible for promotions or receiving any awards, including the APC.
“This initiative is part of the department’s efforts to ensure its personnel remain healthy, fit, and ready to face challenging and high-risk assignments.
“We are actively addressing the BMI issue among our members and working to gradually lower it. To me, this is a long-term investment because the physical fitness of our personnel has a direct impact on the department’s performance,” he said.
Nor Hisham also expressed concern over the fitness levels of the new generation in the service compared to previous generations.
“If we observe, the older generation was more accustomed to physical work and actively engaged in sports, whereas the younger generation seems to require more encouragement to participate in physical activities,” he said.
