By MOHAMMAD FIKRI JAMAL
KUCHING: Only 20 per cent of the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) personnel will be allowed leave during the coming festive season.
Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said 80 per cent of them would be stationed at each station to prepare for emergency calls during the festive season.
“As this year’s Hari Raya Puasa and Gawai Dayak celebrations are very close, I believe it will be a challenging task for firefighters in Sarawak.
“Moreover, the average firefighters here are 50 per cent Muslims and 50 per cent Christians,” he said when met by the media at the Majlis Jalinan Mesra Ihya’ Ramadan programme at the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Headquarters here, recently.
Hamdan said that at this time Bomba will focus more on fire prevention.
“In view of the coming festive season we believe that many activities are being actively carried out in preparation for the celebrations such as cooking and others.
“So, we will continue to campaign more on houses, flats and apartments in residential areas, villages and longhouses,” he said.
He added that they would also focus on water safety because the number of death due to activities on water was higher than death due to fire.
“For instance, last year, the death toll caused by drowning was about 400 people while only 97 deaths involved fire cases.
“That’s a big figure and the Water Activity Safety Council (WASC) will continue with its duties to enhance awareness, patrols and warnings on local high-risk spots such as recreational, fishing areas and others,” he said.
He also said that Bomba is currently conducting a model which is being tested with the Education Ministry which is aimed at enhancing awareness and measures to school children on safety procedures if they are in an emergency situation in the water.
The Majlis Jalinan Mesra Ihya’ Ramadan programme saw the breaking of fast followed by tarawih prayers together with Sarawak firefighters.
Besides, there were “moreh” and “singgah sahur” programmes late evening at a fire station nearby together with firefighters on duty.
Also present were Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department director Khirudin Drahman and assistant director for Fire and Rescue Operations Division, Tiong Ling Hii.
