KUCHING, Sept 14: Sarawak Energy’s Emergency Response Team from Murum and Bakun Hydroelectric Power Plants recently worked with their neighbouring communities on a fire safety awareness and prevention programme.
The teams demonstrated to 49 participants from 22 longhouses the handling of fire extinguishers, while the participants were also given the chance to practice their fire-extinguishing skills.
Sarawak Energy in a statement said the Fire Safety Awareness and Prevention Programme for the resettled communities of Murum and Bakun aims to enable swift and safe response in the event of fire incidents.
Sarawak Energy also contributed a total of 216 and 175 units of new fire extinguishers to both Murum Resettlement Scheme (MRS) and Bakun Resettlement Scheme (BRS) respectively.
The old fire extinguishers will be refilled and returned to the community.
The programme, which was organised to raise awareness on effective firefighting and fire prevention methods was held separately at MRS and BRS.
Sarawak Energy was represented by Encharang Ngtingih, the Murum Power Station Manager, and Augustine Supen Taja, Community Relations Manager at the programme at MRS, which was attended by 21 residents from seven longhouses.
Meanwhile the programme at BRS, which was held in collaboration with Persatuan Bomba Sukarela Sg Asap or PBSSA, was attended by 28 residents from 15 longhouses.
Sarawak Energy was also represented by Augustine at the BRS event; while PBSSA was represented by its Chairman, Councillor Tirah Liwan. Also present were PBSSA Advisor, Pemanca Umek Jeno and Balui Lake Native Association Chairman, Pemanca Tony Kulleh.
Sarawak Energy’s senior vice president for corporate services Siti Aisah Adenan said, “Fires are a constant risk to lives and safety especially for those who live in traditional wooden longhouses and the resettled communities of Murum and Bakun are no exception.
“Given their distance from fire stations, we have partnered with them on this important safety initiative. We hope that the programme will enable the community to provide swifter response in the event of a fire incident. In an emergency, the first responders play a critical role. They may be able to reduce or extinguish the fire before the arrival of Bomba,” she said.
Since the acquisition of Bakun HEP, Sarawak Energy has worked closely with PBSSA by providing training for the association members as well as contributed fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment’s to the communities.
In 2018, Sarawak Energy has sponsored a fully equipped fire-fighting vehicle to replace the older vehicle for PBSSA.
Subsequently in 2019, Sarawak Energy initiated the construction of PBSSA’s mini fire-station, which was completed and fully operational in 2020.
Additionally, Sarawak Energy also provided immediate relief in the form of food and clothing to the affected villagers of the Uma Lesong and Uma Seping Kajang fire in Belaga District earlier this year as well as previous longhouse fires at Uma Bawang in 2019 and Uma Bakung in 2018.
Adding on, Sarawak Energy’s general manager for corporate social responsibility Jiwari Abdullah, said, “This programme is one of our sustainable initiatives on fire safety and prevention since 2017 aimed to build awareness on fire safety and prevention to lower the risk of a fire incident to save lives as well as mitigate losses.
“With coordinated action by longhouse folks who are trained in firefighting, any fire incidents can be stopped from spreading.
“We will work together with relevant agencies such as the Welfare Department, Belaga District Office, Local Community Consultative Committees and PBSSA to ensure continuous supports to the local residents for the preparedness in managing the fire safety aspect of the longhouse communities,” Jiwari concluded. — DayakDaily
