Hamden signs the visitors’ log book, while (from left) Edwin, Janggan and others look on.
SIBU: The Fire and Rescue Department is empowering rural folk with training and providing them with basic fire fighting equipment to function as fire responders in an event of a fire outbreak, says its director-general Datuk Mohammad Hamden Wahid.
He said this was their efforts to humanise the fire and rescue services, adding it was costly to build fire stations in every remote area.
“It is not possible to build fire stations in every remote area, longhouse and so on. That is why we humanise the fire and rescue services by empowering the local community.
“We give empowerment to the community. We will provide longhouse folk with training and basic equipment to help us as first responders (in the event of fire outbreak while waiting for help to arrive).
“That is what we want, and it will become the culture in time to come. We must think one step ahead,” he said during his visit to Sungai Merah Fire Station here yesterday.
On his visit to the state, Hamden said it was to record their highest appreciation to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and the state government for agreeing to channel monthly special assistance of RM200 for special service to curb the spread of Covid-19.
He also thanked the state government for the RM500 assistance to federal civil servants including firemen serving across the state.
“Additionally, to brief the chief minister on the development of our services in Sarawak where there is a need for strategic cooperation and coordination in the aspect of land for building fire stations and to provide our services to the rural communities,” he said.
He also said the department had carried out eight tasks during the Covid-19 operations which included humanitarian and disaster relief, public sanitisation, decontamination and disinfection at epic centres, and others.
He was elated to note that these tasks had been carried out professionally, earning recognition for the department.
He also stressed the importance of continuous training to enhance competency and professionalism of firemen.
He thus advised the 12 fire stations in Zone 4 to ensure the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) in the aspect of response time and delivering of service among others, are achieved.
“When you enter the service, you embrace the regulation, standard operating procedures (SOP) and ethics of the department,” he said.
Touching on designated buildings in Sibu, he urged the department to ensure that these buildings adhere to the stipulated regulations.
Earlier on, Bomba Zone 4 chief Janggan Muling delivered his opening remarks after Hamden inspected the guard-of-honour.
Bomba Malaysia director of Fire Safety Division, Edwin Galan Teruki, and Sungai Merah Fire Station chief Suna Kaha were also present at the function.