MIRI: The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) is moving to close critical manpower gaps in its specialist units while accelerating asset upgrades and welfare support as operational demands grow more complex and external risks begin to weigh on national preparedness.
Director Jamri Masran said the department could not afford complacency, pointing to capability shortfalls in key response units even as the nature of emergencies continues to evolve across the state’s challenging terrain.
“Readiness today is not just about numbers. It is about how effectively we mobilise different strengths under pressure,” he said at the department’s monthly assembly here.
Framing his message around the theme “unity is not uniformity”, Jamri stressed that operational success depends on integrating diverse expertise across roles, from frontline responders to investigators and logistics personnel, rather than enforcing rigid conformity.
The recalibration comes as Sarawak’s firefighters contend with a broadening risk landscape, including large-scale open burning, climate-driven incidents and increasingly complex rescue scenarios in remote and riverine areas.
Despite steady progress, several specialist units remain under strength.
The Water Rescue Unit (PPDA), a critical component in flood and river operations, is operating at just two-thirds capacity, with hundreds of vacancies yet to be filled. The Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS), which bridge fire response and pre-hospital care, are also below optimal staffing levels.
Other units, including Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) and CBRNe teams, are nearing full strength while smaller gaps persist in elite capabilities such as the Rapid Intervention Motorcycle (RIM) unit and K9 detection teams.
The department is targeting full staffing across all specialised units by 2027, a timeline that underscores both urgency and structural constraints in training and deployment.
“This is about ensuring every unit is mission-ready, with the right competencies to respond to increasingly technical incidents,” Jamri said.
Parallel to manpower strengthening, the department is pushing ahead with fleet and equipment upgrades aimed at improving response times and firefighter safety.
Sarawak is expected to receive a significant share of 160 Light Operations Vehicles to be distributed nationwide, enhancing mobility particularly in hard-to-reach locations. Earlier distributions of Fire Rescue Tender units have already strengthened frontline capacity.
At the same time, 6,000 sets of fire-resistant suits are being procured for phased delivery through 2027, reinforcing compliance with international safety standards and reducing occupational risk exposure.
The combined push reflects a broader operational shift towards speed, resilience and survivability in high-risk environments.
In a marked shift from traditional approaches, welfare is being repositioned as a core component of operational effectiveness.
A RM10 million federal allocation has been approved for the upgrading of fire quarters nationwide, covering more than 1,500 units, including a substantial number in Sarawak. Additional funding has been sought to expand the programme.
Separately, another RM10 million has been channelled through the Fire and Rescue Welfare Fund to support station-level upgrades, recreation facilities and safety improvements.
Industry observers note that such investments are increasingly critical in sustaining morale, retaining skilled personnel and maintaining peak performance in high-stress roles.
The developments come as the department marks its 50th anniversary this year, a milestone being used to anchor a broader transformation agenda.
Under the “KITA BOMBA” framework, the organisation is reinforcing a collective identity built on five pillars: bravery, integrity, meritocracy, brand strength and achievement.
The initiative is designed to strengthen internal cohesion while driving higher performance standards across all levels of the organisation.
“Fifty years is not just a celebration. It is a reset point to strengthen our legacy and accelerate transformation,” Jamri said.
At the event, he presented certificates of appreciation to nine landowners involved in the Miri Open Burning Emergency Mutual Aid (MOBEMA) Memorandum of Understanding initiative aimed at facilitating access and coordination during emergency response to bush fire.
These landowners are Shin Yang Sen Bhd (Linau Mewah Sdn Bhd); Shin Yang Sdn Bhd (Melinau Transport Sdn Bhd); Naim Lan Sdn Bhd; Permy Development Sdn Bhd; Pantai Bayu Indah Sdn Bhd; Miri Housing Development Realty Sdn Bhd; Woodman Kuala Baram Estate Sdn Bhd; Curting University Malaysia and Imasa Dinasti Sdn Bhd.
