KUCHING, Oct 4: Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth has proposed that the six Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) divers who drowned during a rescue mission yesterday to be given a posthumous promotion to honour their heroic efforts.
Its Information Chief, Saifunnizam Sam, said the promotion would at least benefit their families, especially their children and widows, in terms of increased pensions.
“While we mourn the loss of these six brave Bomba personnel who perished during a search and rescue mission to save a drowned victim, we propose that the Pakatan Harapan-led federal government recognised their sacrifices by promoting the ranks of these heroes, as how we honour police officers and military personnel who had lost their lives while on duty.
“The promotion would at least help to lessen the burden of the widows, children and family, through the pensions, in continuing their lives,” Saifunnizam said in a statement today.
The state PKR Youth extended their condolences to the family of the six divers, identified as Mohd Fatah Hashim, 34, Izatul Akma Wan Ibrahim, 32, Mazlan Omarbaki, 25, and Sarawakian Yahya Ali, 24, from the Water Rescue Unit of the Port Klang Fire and Rescue station. The other two victims were identified as Adnan Othman, 33, and Muhammad Hifdzul Malik Shaari, 25, who were members of the Water Rescue Unit from the Shah Alam Fire and Rescue Station.
The six divers died while trying to locate a 17-year-old boy who was feared to have drowned after falling into a mining pond in Puchong on Wednesday (Oct 3). The divers were reported to have been caught in a strong ‘whirlpool’ during the operation.
The divers struggled in the water for about 30 minutes while other personnel tried to rescue them. All six were unconscious when pulled out of the water, and it was also reported that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered by a medical team but failed.
The teen was said to have been fishing by the banks of the pond with two friends when he slipped and fell. At press time, he has yet to be found. — DayakDaily
