KUANTAN: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department will have to cough up RM30 million to pay the allowances of its additional auxiliary firefighters it plans to recruit and fire engine drivers’ allowance.
Its director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said the department had embarked on an austerity drive to come up with the money as budget for this was not provided for in the allocation to the department.
“Now we have 440 auxiliary firefighters and we intend to increase the number to 800 members. The addition of the new auxiliary firefighters will cost RM20 million in terms of allowance payment.
“For the fire engine driver’s allowance, about RM10 million is needed to be paid to 2,000 drivers,” he told reporters after presenting Excellent Service Awards (ESA) to the department’s personnel and aid to firefighters who were flood victims in Pahang, here, yesterday. — Bernama