SRI AMAN: Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) in rural areas should form a special committee to act as a fire prevention team.
This was pointed out by Assistant Minister of Community Wellbeing, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis when officiating at a ‘Ngiling Tikai’ (Gawai closing) at Rumah Resa, Empelanjau Bakong, here, on Friday evening.
“The formation of the fire prevention team in villages or longhouses is so that the residents are able to control or put out the fire before the arrival of firemen.
“One of the ways the residents help to prevent or put out fires is for them to become members of the voluntary fire fighters team (Bomba Community) in their areas.
“Hence, don’t just let the putting out fires solely on the firemen alone. This is because fire can be put out at the early stage if the villagers or longhouse residents are trained,” said Harden who is also an honorary Bomba Assistant Commissioner.
He also urged new longhouses being built to incorporate ‘fire breakers’ in the roofs and ‘fire party’ in order to slow down the fire.
Harden also announced a RM5,000 grant to the longhouse JKKK and RM3,000 to the Women’s Bureau, handed over five fire extinguishers to the longhouse and presented pocket money to 20 kindergarten pupils of Tanjung Bijat.
Among those present were chairman of SUPP Lingga, Kapitan Kuek Aik Seng, Deputy Walikota of Sri Aman, Councillor Andar Suntai, SUPP Simanggang Women chief, Ling Siew Hung, Pemanca Lee Shiang Hua, a representative of Bomba Sri Aman, Jilir Itar and local community leaders.
