KUCHING: Nine auxiliary fire officers were accredited yesterday during a ceremony at the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) headquarters by Jalan Setia Raja here.
The director Khirudin Drahman who officiated at the function stated that the officers were members of the state fire department and the Airport Fire and Rescue Services (AFRS).
Four of them are from Kampung Pamukat who served at Lawas Airport previously.
“Last year, the department agreed with applications from Malaysia Airport Holding Berhad (MAHB) to station auxiliary officers at short take-off and landing airports (Stolport) on December 13-22, 2018 after training at Marudi Airport.
“These gentlemen have undergone physical tests and interviews. This is because we don’t choose those who could be burdensome to the department. We only choose those who could help carry the department forward,” he said.
Upon completion of training at the headquarters, yesterday was moment that the officers had been waiting for, having been separated from their families for 10 days from July 14 to 24.
To date, Sarawak fire department has 212 auxiliary fire teams stationed throughout the state and 18 stolport auxiliary team TOLPORT voluntary fire teams.
When asked why there are only three places that have auxiliary fire teams — Marudi, Kudat and Lawas – Khirudin explained that it is due to operational and financial issues.
“The auxiliary teams ensure the safety of the aircraft and foster good working ties between the department and stolport. Their allowances are covered by MAHB following the signing of an MOU between the department and stolport authorities,” he told.
On the 10-day course, he said that it is a requirement that the auxiliary officers know the terminologies of the department and stations where they work and self-discipline of working in teams.
“In any formation practice, we strengthen team building first before venturing into fire and rescue theories and practices,” he said.
The course is sufficient for the trainees to know the basic equipment used by the department, which is why they get to work at Lawas stolport.
If the airport expands in the future and there is always a need for the auxiliary firemen the course will continuously be organised.
Also present at the accreditation ceremony were Malaysia Airports and Holdings Berhad (MAHB) ARFS general manager Abdul Malik Mohd Yunus, assistant director of fire and rescue operations Tiong Ling Hii, fire department assistant director (investigation) Amran Jusoh and Kuching International Airport senior manager Jun Iskandar Morshidi.
