LONG LAMA: The Fire Voluntary Squad of Long Lama has obtained equipment to improve their firefighting capabilities.
They managed to collect more than RM30,000 from generous donors to obtain a portable fire pump.
To commemorate the special occasion, a gotong royong perdana was held at Long Lama on Feb 7, with Telang Usan assemblymen Dennis Ngau present.
During his opening remarks, he applauded the exemplary leadership of Telang Usan district officer Baru Tai and the leaders and the people of Long Lama for working together in all events and programmes that benefit the community.
Dennis added that he has never heard of any other group in a community who are always ready to contribute their time and money for their community’s sake.
“I hope this good example would be emulated by other longhouse folk so that we could always complement what the government is doing for our people,” he said.
To reciprocate the people’s good gestures and commitment, Dennis approved RM10, 000 from his Minor Rural Project (MRP) fund for the construction of a building for the firefighting equipment located in town.
Dennis said that in 2019, he was informed by the state Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) that a fire station has been approved to be built at Long Lama town and another mini-station to be built at Long Bedian.
However, the projects were delayed due to the financial constraints faced by the country due to Covid-19.
“I am proud of the people’s attitude of not just sitting around and waiting for things to happen. Instead, they rolled up sleeves and made things happen,” he said.
Long Lama town is situated about 135km from Miri City.
Before the completion of the Simpang Beluru to Long Lama town by the then Barisan Nasional government, it normally took more than four hours to travel between the two areas.
For the nearest fire brigade located at Miri or Marudi town to reach Long lama, it might take more than two hours.
This was the situation experienced by Long Lama folk recently when a fire broke out and burned down three buildings.
Without any basic firefighting equipment, the community was left standing around helplessly and could not do anything.
This experience had prompted Baru to call for a meeting on December 15 last year attended by village development and security committee (JKKK) members of Pekan Long Lama and Kampung Kayan Long Lama, and heads of government to look at the issue at hands.
It was decided that a Fire Voluntary Squad team to be set up immediately under the chairmanship of Kenny Yap Huan Yih and assisted by Kang Siew Lian and Andrew Jau.
They were trained and guided by the Miri Division Bomba and Marudi Fire Unit personnel.
