PORT DICKSON: Air units will be formed in Sabah and Sarawak to monitor, prevent and tackle fires, especially forest fires, Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said yesterday.
He said there was a need for an air unit each in the two states due to their large size and difficulty of land travel.
“Having air units will facilitate movement in the two states. This is our priority,” he told reporters after the handover of excellent service awards and medals for 2011, here.
He said the department had two air bases, in Subang, Selangor, and Kepala Batas, Penang and seven helicopters.
On the need for new Fire and Rescue stations, he said the department was always on the look out for areas requiring fire stations.
“However, it depends on the government’s financial capability. We will build if there is an allocation. For example, we will build a new station in Gemencheh, Negeri Sembilan,” he said.
At the event, 14 officers were conferred medals while 52 officers and firemen received excellent service awards. — Bernama