KUCHING: A total of 6,079 applicants from Sarawak will soon be called for interviews and training to be firefighters.
There are 1,096 female and 4,983 male applicants.
Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) director Khirudin Drahman said the 6,079 are among the 57,000 candidates throughout Malaysia who are waiting to be called for practical and physical interviews.
“We have about 1,500 posts vacant in Sarawak at the moment,” said Khirudin when contacted, yesterday.
He said the number of those from Sarawak was 10 percent of the 57,000 candidates.
“It is a very good response as many want to join Bomba despite knowing that the job can be very challenging,” he said.
He said the candidates from Sarawak would be interviewed at four centres – two in Kuching, and one each in Miri and Sibu.
The Free Malaysia Today news portal yesterday reported Central Region Fire and Rescue Academy (ABPM) commandant Md Ali Ismail as saying that 57,000 candidates would undergo physical tests first and those who made it would undergo oral tests.
Ali, who is the head of the main training academy in Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor, said next year about 1,100 would be trained to become firefighters with 600 others as reserves.
There are several requirements in the selection of candidates.
For men, they must not be less than 1.57m tall and weigh not more than 48kg.
For females, they must be more than 1.53m tall and weigh not more than 46kg.
For chest measurements, they must be at least 79cm and 84cm when inhaling. Only men need to meet this requirement.
Candidates will also need to go through eyesight tests, colour recognition and hearing tests.
Other tests include weight-lifting, rope climbing and stair climbing.
