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15,914 emergency calls throughout last year: Chong

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Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin You (right) with State Director of Fire and Rescue Department Khirudin Drahman (second right) during the launching of Kempen Kesedaran Keselamatan Kebakaran Peringkat Zon 1 Sarawak at AEON Mall in Kuching.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin You (right) with State Director of Fire and Rescue Department Khirudin Drahman (second right) during the launching of Kempen Kesedaran Keselamatan Kebakaran Peringkat Zon 1 Sarawak at AEON Mall in Kuching.

KUCHING: The state Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) received a total of 15,914 emergency calls throughout last year.

Of these, 5,807 were rescue calls; 2,388 (fire calls); 7,703 (special service calls); and 16 (fake calls).

This was stated by Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen in his speech at the launch of the Fire Safety Awareness Campaign at AEON Mall Kuching Central here yesterday.

“Emergency calls have increased by 698 compared to only 5,109 in 2017.

“The value of property losses experienced by fire victims last year was RM77.6 million – a decrease of RM5.5 million compared to RM83.1 million in 2017.

“Meanwhile, the property saved last year was RM627 million, an increase of 67 percent or RM420 million compared to RM206 million in 2017,” added Chong, whose speech was read by Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.

According to Chong, losses caused by fires would have an indirect negative impact on the country’s economic growth.

“Foreign investors will assess the degree of fire safety of a country before they come to invest.

“Therefore, fire safety awareness should start from home and at early age,” he said.

With the coming Chinese New Year, Chong, who is also DAP Sarawak chairman, advised the public to be alert and to always check their houses every time they are going elsewhere.

Also present at the event was state Bomba director Khirudin Drahman.

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