KUCHING: Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) director Datuk Khirudin Drahman @ Husaini has been appointed as the new Bomba Malaysia deputy commissioner.
He will assume his new role as director of Fire Safety and Prevention Division in Putrajaya, focusing on community awareness programmes, occupational permits (OP), and fire certificates.
This was revealed by Bomba director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad during the Sarawak Bomba Excellent Service Awards 2023 ceremony at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre here, this morning.
“Khirudin’s position as the Sarawak Bomba director will be taken over by his deputy Tiong Ling Hii, who will assume as acting director.
“Tiong will assume the role of acting director first as we will have certain procedures to go through before he is appointed as the new Sarawak Bomba director.
“He will be among 11 officers who will receive the ‘one-star grade’ promotion of senior assistant fire commissioner soon,” Hisham told a press conference after the ceremony.
Reflecting on his tenure as the Sarawak Bomba director, Khirudin said it has been a delightful six years serving as the state director.
“It has been a wonderful journey to build a resilient community in Sarawak. I have always talked about how the first five minutes (of a fire) start with you and not with Bomba or the government.
“I would like to thank the media for highlighting issues on how to stay safe and be safe in a fire, as the choice to act will be in the people’s hands.
“Based on last year’s figure of property damage in fires, only five per cent were affected, showing that most of the community is able to extinguish the fire in the early stages,” he said.
He said the incoming Sarawak Bomba director will have no problem following the plans laid out for building a resilient community.
Also appointed as Bomba deputy commissioners alongside Khirudin, are Malaysia Bomba Air Division director Datuk Nazili Mahmood and Sabah Bomba director Abdul Razak Muda.
Nazili will assume his new role as director of Development, Engineering and Logistics Division while Abdul Razak assumes his role as director of Training Division.
Their new positions start effective today.
