Matu district hopes to have a new fire station under 10th M’sia Plan

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SIBU: Matu district is hoping to see a fire station built in their area under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Jemoreng assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie said Matu district should be considered as one of the 12 places identified to have new Fire and Rescue Service station.

“Matu district which is under the Jemoreng constituency, surely needs a fire station considering its location, pattern of population, densely housing area and logistic,” he told reporters here yesterday when asked to comment on the plan of the State Fire and Rescue Service Department to set up 12 new fire stations in the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Abu Seman, who is also a Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, said the site to set up the proposed station has been identified.

However, state Fire and Rescue Service director Ahmad Shahabuddin during the recent ‘Hari Bomba’ celebration in Kuching said that the locations for the 12 new fire stations proposed in Sarawak have yet to be identified.

The director-general of the Fire and Rescue Service Dato Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim, had in March stated that every new fire station proposed would cost RM12 million and if the station would be set up together with the staff quarters, the amount would be doubled.

Abu Seman said the site to build the fire station in Matu district has been ready since more than 10 years ago. He noted that a fire station in Matu was very much required and deemed fit in view that most houses in the district were built of wood.

“It is certainly difficult to get help from Mukah Fire Station in case of a fire outbreak due to the long distance and time consuming to travel between Mukah and Matu.

“I had personally submitted the proposal to set up the fire station in the district during the previous state legislative sitting. Hopefully, the proposal will be approved by the government,” he enthused.

Asked on voluntary fire fighters in Matu district, he said the district has a voluntary fire-fighting team but the resources were very limited.

“They also lack experience. Manpower in the absence of equipment is a handicap,” he said.