Entri launching the competition in Marudi.
MARUDI: This district will hold a first-of-a-kind competition to encourage longhouse folk here practise proper fire safety at their respective communities.
State Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Mohd Ali Bahudin launched the ‘Fire Prevention and Safety Competition’ (FPSCom) here on Thursday, which would carry the slogan ‘Safe Life, Safe Property’.
The programme was attended by longhouse chiefs and representatives of the village development and security committees (JKKKs) across the state constituency.
Marudi District officer Mackos Sibong, Miri Zone Fire and Rescue chief Senior Supt Law Poh Kiong and Marudi station chief Assistant Supt Zulbada Alior were also present.
The competition was the brainchild of Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Sylvester Entri
Muran, who wanted to see higher awareness of fire safety standard among longhouses dwellers.
He said the goal was to inculcate a culture of fire safety in the villagers through affirmative steps, on top of sharing of knowledge with regard to ‘Zero Longhouse Fire’ campaign across this district.
The chiefs and their committees were required to draw up fire safety plans, good practices and awareness activities – all up for consideration by a panel of judges, of which the results would be known by end of this year.
“This competition is not so much about winning cash prizes. It’s more about getting villagers and longhouse folk be more aware; that precious lives and properties could disappear during a fire,” he told The Borneo Post.
Entri, who is also Marudi assemblyman, said understood how heartbreaking it was for the villagers to lose everything that they had worked for so hard, to a fire.
“This is what we want them to bear in mind;hence the theme ‘Safe Lives, Safe Property’,” he said.
According to Fire and Rescue Department, there were 21 longhouse fires across the state last year, incurring total losses worth RM27 million.
Entri said there was a need for more educational programmes and ideas to prevent fire outbreaks here.
“Even with fire extinguishers being provided and representatives being sent for courses, longhouse fires still break out. That is why this competition emphasises on involvement and awareness of residents, with leadership being the crucial point,” he said.
State Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) director Nor Hisham Mohammad lauded the drive as a sustainable programme during a programme in Sibu last month.
He said the contest was one way to inculcate awareness of fire hazards among longhouse folk, as well as the preventive measures that they could take.
Fire prevention and management programmes for longhouse residents include talks, firefighting demonstrations and fire drills.