By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Aug 27: Sarawak needs at least another 24 fire stations, including in Batu Kawa.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, said this while thanking the Federal government for building five new fire stations at Sibujaya, Asajaya, Lutong, Belaga and Bintangor under the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020) he emphasised that the Federal government’s norms and standard are different therefore certain sections cannot be applied in Sarawak.
Dr Sim pointed that this was crucial especially when Sarawak is not only the biggest state in terms of land size in Malaysia, but it has the largest petrol chemical industries and the most numbers of hydro dams and longhouses.
“Sarawak is very different from Peninsular Malaysia. Hence, we must be prepared for any eventuality as our industries and dams can potentially cause issues. Our Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak must be properly equipped and our firefighters well protected.
“Despite the odds, Bomba Sarawak did fantastic in their job, not just fire fighting but also in search and rescue; and extremely active in communities engagement,” Dr Sim said at the handing over 723 pieces of various personal protective equipment (PPE), five Fire Response Vehicle (Mitsubishi Triton 2), three Rapid Intervention Motorcycle (Kawasaki Versys 650 CC), K-9 unit Utility Vehicle, (Toyota Hilux) to Bomba Sarawak yesterday.
Congratulating Sarawak director Khirudin Drahman and the whole team for successfully working with the PPE and vehicle allocation, Dr Sim also thanked the Federal government for looking into the needs of Sarawak.
Bomba Sarawak K9 unit was established in 2019 and they are now based in Serian fire station.
Dr Sim noted that although Bomba is a federal agency, the state government will continue to help and fight for them.
“Let Federal government come in a certain way, while the State government and NGOs can also come in other ways. It is more important than anywhere else in Malaysia that in Sarawak, we need Federal government agency like Bomba to work with Sarawak government and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to maximise the synergistic resources as it is the people of Sarawak that we serve.”—DayakDaily
