OYA: The Oya Voluntary Fire Brigade was officially declared open on Monday by Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah. In her speech, Fatimah challenged the voluntary fire brigade catering to eight villages in the area to place itself as the top voluntary fire brigade in the State. “I understand you have been trained in various fire fighting knowledge and related activities.
“I want you to double your effort and eventually place this brigade as one of the top voluntary fire brigades in the State,” she said. She lauded the villagers and the Fire Department for establishing the voluntary fire brigade, which is an excellent platform to promote the spirit of co-operation among the various villages in the district.
The minister also wanted the allocation for the Village Development and S e cur i t y Committee (JKKK) to be used for buying water pumps, as a preparation for any eventuality of fire incidence in the village. Fatimah, who is also Dalat Assemblywomen, wanted a similar voluntary fire brigade to be established in Nanga Baoh, which is located on the upper river of Batang Oya.
“A similar voluntary fire brigade should be established in Nanga Boah where about nine longhouses are located closely to each other. “Normally, fire in a longhouse starts from one door and then spreads to the rest of the longhouse,” she said.
At the event, she presented Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants to various organisations, including schools in Dalat and Mukah districts.
Present at the function were Oya Sub- District Administrative Officer Yusup Hossein, Dalat/ Mukah District Council Walikota Haji Kadir Haji Jamil, Mukah Division Fire and Rescue Department Officer Bonny Martin Saging Mato, civil servants and community leaders.
