KUCHING: The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) will be identifying assets and equipment needed by fire stations to deal with disasters in the state.
Its director Datuk Khirudin Drahman said priority should be given to these fire stations.
He was responding to the RM50 million allocation for Bomba, Malaysian Armed Forces and Volunteer Corps Department (Rela) for disaster management preparedness in the revised Budget 2023.
“The application to obtain relevant allocations is not easy as it requires a lot of processes. If we request (for it) this year, maybe the asset and equipment will arrive next year.
“Once it arrives, our department will make sure the requested assets are distributed to the fire stations that need them, aside from carrying out justification to ensure which fire stations is prioritised,” he said after officiating at the department’s monthly assembly at their headquarters yesterday (Feb 27).
Apart from that, the department, he said, also needs to increase engagement with the community and this means allocation for advocacy.
Khirudin added that this is to educate the local community on fire safety and prevention.
“Even though the department may get many assets, it will not guarantee our quick management to handle disasters or fire cases.
“The most critical asset (for Bomba) is human beings, to be exact the local community.
“It is impossible for all 39 fire stations to cover the whole of Sarawak as the state has a large geographical mass,” he said.
Therefore, this is where the Bomba Community and auxiliary firefighters (PBS) play their role to act early on any fire and disaster case.
If a flood occurs, they have the knowledge to handle the matter and instruct the surrounding community to move to a safer area.
During the monthly assembly, Khirudin and his deputy Tiong Ling Hii as well as assistant director of operations Henderi Ardimansyah officiated at the pinning of new rank promotions to 25 officers.
They also witnessed the handing over of duties between eight officers.
