By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 11: A dedicated task force has been proposed to oversee crisis management in all heavy industrial factories across Bintulu, particularly in Samalaju.
Bintulu MP Dato Seri Tiong King Sing said recent disasters at Samalaju Industrial Park have highlighted critical gaps in crisis response, including delays in communication, unclear responsibilities, and poor coordination among agencies.
These issues have hampered swift action by emergency responders, such as the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and hospitals.
Compounding the situation, the spread of misinformation on social media has caused public panic.
“During a meeting on Dec 9, I explicitly emphasised that the Bintulu Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) must establish a specialised task force focusing on the heavy industrial areas of Samalaju.
“This task force will oversee disaster crisis management in all heavy industrial factories in Bintulu, coordinating efforts between factories and government agencies.
“Measures include setting up group chats for real-time updates, personnel training, security mechanisms, and implementing crisis management protocols,” he said in a statement today.
Tiong who is also Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), has also urged all factories, especially those operating 24 hours a day, to establish their own crisis response volunteer teams and security groups.
This, he said, will ensure that in the event of a disaster, they can carry out appropriate crisis response and mitigation measures before emergency responders arrive on-site.
Meanwhile, acknowledging the unique risks in Samalaju’s industrial zone, Tiong urged Bomba to actively submit comprehensive equipment upgrade plans to headquarters, including the procurement of high-pressure water cannons, ladder trucks and other essential tools to prevent disasters from worsening.
“As disasters often involve severe injuries, it is also crucial to ensure that medical personnel at Samalaju’s factory clinics receive professional training and are equipped with adequate first-aid supplies. This allows for proper emergency treatment before hospital emergency teams arrive,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
