DEBAK: Longhouse and Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) must not neglect fire preventive measures in their list of responsibilities, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He said this task was all the more pertinent and important given the many cases of longhouse fires this year.
He said this when closing a community fire fighting course for 110 participants from 19 longhouses at Rumah Ambu Liben in Suri Tengah here yesterday.
“When people are organised, their first priority is to fight the fire while others will get fellow residents, particularly the elders and children to move to safety,” he said and also commended the Fire and Rescue Department for organising it.
He said many longhouses are far away from the nearest Fire and Rescue station and longhouse folk should be trained on fire fighting techniques as the first response group.
Uggah who was accompanied by Betong MP Datuk Lawson Chuat presented fire hydrants to the chiefs of 19 longhouses and a vehicle to the Spaoh fire fighting voluntary unit.
Earlier in his speech, the leader of the participants, Tuai Rumah Edmund Gumbang said it was a matter of grave concern that there were 27 cases of longhouse fire statewide this year, causing loss of properties estimated at over RM50 million and human casualties.
He also urged the government to upgrade the Betong fire station so that it could have more personnel and better fire fighting equipment.
Others present at the function were the political secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Richard Rapu, Fire Superintendent Nik Mohd Afiq Nik Roslan from Sri Aman Fire and Rescue Department and Betong Resident Friday Belik. – Bernama
