KUCHING, Oct 4: Yahya Ali and his five colleagues who perished during a rescue mission to locate a missing teenager who fell into a mining pond on Wednesday (Oct 3) had demonstrated courage at the highest level.
Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the six Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) divers had put their lives on the line in the name of discharging their duties.
“They put others before themselves while performing their responsibilities. Yahya, who was from Kampung Tian in Matu, also showed a high sense of responsibility and commitment as he was willing to be posted to the peninsula to serve the people and country,” she told reporters here today.
Fatimah, who is also Dalat assemblyperson, said she would discuss with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on the type of assistance the state could provide for the grieving family.
“We will refer to the state government on how we can help the family. We have yet to determine the type of assistance that we can provide, but we will bring the matter up in the next state cabinet meeting.
“This tragedy is the first of its kind that had happened. We are really sad by the demise of the six Bomba (Fire and Rescue) personnel,” she added.
Fatimah said the state government had extended its condolences to the families of the victims.
“It is a tragic loss for the Bomba fraternity and to the state as a whole, considering that one of the perished divers is from Sarawak,” she said.
Yahya, 24, was among the six firemen who perished in the 9.15pm incident during a rescue operation to find a missing 17-year-old boy who is feared to have drowned after falling into a mining pond in Taman Putra Perdana in Puchong.
His remains are expected to be flown in from Subang to Sibu using a Royal Malaysian Airforce aircraft this evening.
Yahya and three other divers who perished in the tragedy, Mohd Fatah Hashim, 34, Izatul Akma Wan Ibrahim, 32 and Mazlan Omarbaki, 25, were attached to the Water Rescue Unit of the Port Klang Fire and Rescue station.
The other two victims, identified as Adnan Othman, 33, and Muhammad Hifdzul Malik Shaari, 25, were members of the Water Rescue Unit from the Shah Alam Fire and Rescue station.
The divers were reported to have been caught in a strong whirlpool during the operation. They had 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. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered by a medical team at the scene but failed to revive them. — DayakDaily
