By Lian Cheng and Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, May 30: Peninsular Malaysia, which is the same area size as Sarawak, has more than 200 fire and rescue (Bomba) stations while Sarawak only has 38.
The discrepancy in accessibility to fire and rescue assistance has caused Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas to voice out for more Bomba stations to be built in Sarawak while officiating at a fire safety campaign in conjunction with Gawai Dayak held at Bomba Sarawak headquarters here today.
The call was echoed by Bomba Sarawak director Datuk Khirudin Drahman.
“We see that Sarawak’s area size is almost the same as Peninsular Malaysia, minus Melaka, and Sarawak has only 38 Bomba stations, going to be 39 soon. In Peninsular Malaysia, there are more than 200 of them. Just imagine,” said Khirudin.
Meanwhile, Khirudin also called on all residents in urban and rural areas to install fire safety equipment in their houses.
“If you can spend money for a 60-inch television (TV) in your home, why not spend some on fire safety equipment?” Khirudin asked.
He noted that netizens questioned the need for fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in homes when it is not mandatory by law.
To this, he responded that a large-sized TV and a sofa set are also not mandatory by law, but people are buying them although they cannot put out fires.
“We are willing to spend on a large TV set, but what can put out a fire is a fire extinguisher; a smoke detector can detect fire.
“There is no record in history saying that a 60-inch TV can put out a fire. It doesn’t make any sense. Yet we are willing to buy a TV, and we are willing to be in debt for it,” he said. — DayakDaily
