By Nancy Nais
BAU, March 11: The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Malaysia is seeking to recruit new blood from the non-Bumiputera community, particularly the Chinese.
Its director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said they need to recruit more Chinese into the firefighting force as it is deemed important and very useful, typically in terms of communication issues when dealing with cases.
“We want more non-Bumiputera especially the Chinese to improve our service efficiency and move forward as a dynamic unit. Apart from that, this will also create a better, friendly and harmonious society to reflect our country’s diverse ethnic and multicultural sentiments of the community.
“Apart from operations, they can also contribute to community awareness and fire prevention programmes,” Mohammad Hamdan said after meeting 109 new recruits from Series 1/2022 Fire Science Certificate Course programme at the Sarawak Region Fire and Rescue Academy in Bau today.
There are no new Chinese recruits in Sarawak and the East Coast region’s academy at Wakaf Tapai in Terengganu, while Sabah registered only two this year.
From the 109 new members in Sarawak, 49 consist of Malays, while the rest are Iban (27), Melanau (16), Bidayuh (8), Bisaya (2) and Kenyah, Kayan, Kedayan, Kejaman, Dusun, Kadazan, Indian and Portuguese at one each.
Although the number of Chinese joining Bomba has dwindled over the years, the department will continue to work through various channels to encourage members of this community to be firefighters and noted that there is no quota recruitment for non-Bumiputeras.
Describing being a firefighter as a noble profession that save lives and properties, Mohammad Hamdan said besides their core firefighting business, they also conduct rescue, special operations and many more.
“Perhaps it is due to low salary at the start especially for those who come in under KB19 rank with a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) certificate.
“Once you are a firefighter, you do not have much freedom so economic opportunities are low and this may not suit their liking. Some may also feel the four-months worth of vigorous training is very hard and strict,” Mohammad Hamdan said when asked about the reasons surrounding the low number of Chinese joining Bomba.
However, he asserts that when it comes to volunteer firefighters, the Chinese comprise the most in Malaysia and they are very active.
“It seems they are the most willing to help when any incidents occur. Perhaps they prefer it this way, not being tied down or permanent with Bomba because they have other commitments as well,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Hamdan noted that firefighting seems to have become a career choice for many, citing the recent recruitment totaling 1,097 including diploma, bachelor degree and masters degree holders.
He said they received 120,000 applicants, of which some 20,000 were considered for an interview and finally 1,097 made it to undertake the Grade KB19, KB29 and KB41 firefighting course nationwide this year.
Including the ones in Bau, these new recruits will undergo four months training at Wakaf Tapai (707), Sabah (148) and 133 at the Central region academy in Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor. — DayakDaily
