KUCHING: Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak (TBS) has distributed fire aid worth RM77,000 to a total of 45 victims in Sarawak for the first two months of this year.
This sum indicated that fire incidents are still not taken seriously by the majority of the community in the state.
TBS general manager Datuk Abang Mohd Shibli Abang Mohd Naili stated that the figure is a big, even if it is just for the two months of the year.
He further compared it with last year’s total figure of RM677,000 aid distributed to 462 natural disaster victims in the state.
“Whenever a fire incident occurs, some (of the community) will first take pictures and videos instead of assisting or calling for help to put out the fire.
“At our level (TBS), we are at the receiving end of the incident whereby we help them in terms of fund to rebuild their homes,” he said adding that they are currently looking at a synergy formed between the State Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and TBS.
Shibli further noted that TBS will be assisting the Bomba department in organising more fire awareness programmes to educate the community.
“Apart from that, TBS is also stressing on educating the community in terms of life skills because it covers everything in our daily life.
“Looking at the current social issues in the country, the community is only good in learning and technical skills but, their life skills are put aside,” he said when attending the Bomba ‘Kunjungan Kasih’ event yesterday at Kuching Baiturrahmah Welfare Organisation centre.
This synergy (cooperation) is timely for both sides because TBS is able to educate and create more awareness on fire safety.
Also present were State Bomba director Khirudin Drahman and Kuching Baiturrahmah Welfare Organisation president Salleh Hamden.
