KUCHING: It may be mandatory for longhouses to construct firewalls to prevent fires from spreading.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government might make firewalls compulsory under the law.
“This needs to be studied carefully as we are afraid longhouse folk are unable to accept the proposed ruling,” he told a press conference here after attending the closing of a community programme by the Satok Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) at SK Merpati Jepang here yesterday.
Johari pointed out that most old longhouses did not have firewalls and whenever there was a fire, it would spread from one door to another until an entire longhouse went up in smoke.
“The government has already set the new specifications for longhouses but not many longhouses are following them,” he said, adding that there was, however, a longhouse in Miri built according to the specifications set by the government.
“Maybe, if we make this mandatory, it will be better for the safety of the longhouse folk and prevent them from suffering total losses,” he added.
Earlier on, state Bomba director Khirudin Drahman said the department would engage more communities in its three fire prevention programmes namely, community programme, fire hydrant team programme and fire point programme.
“These programmes teach them basic skills on how to prevent and handle fires,”he said.
He explained a group of people known as Community Bomba would be assisting Bomba to put out fires at the early stage while waiting for the firefighters to arrive.
Yesterday, a total of 300 people were selected under the three Bomba programmes while 17 houses were selected for the fire point programme.
