SIBU: Fire stations statewide will be provided with Compact Fire Rescue Tender (CFRT), said the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (Bomba) Deputy Director General (Operations) Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yasin.
Yesterday (Oct 24), he said the medium-sized CFRT machinery was to optimise the ability and role of firefighters to prevent fires, especially in narrow lanes or spaces.
Abdul Wahab explained that fire stations located in the rural and inland areas would also get the machinery.
“Bomba is planning to get 150 of these units. Currently, they are still in the tender process.
“We expect to distribute them to fire stations in Malaysia starting next year but this is subject to the approval of the tender process that has already been made.
“Not all stations will receive this machinery because we have 324 stations throughout Malaysia while the procurement we make is only for 150 units.
“In Sarawak we have not set (the amount) but I believe the distribution will be made in the state as Sarawak has a geography that requires this medium machinery in rural and remote areas in ensuring service delivery to disaster locations quickly and smoothly,” he added.
Abdul Wahab said Bomba would request the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department to identify and recommend critical stations that needed the CFRT.
He did not mention and declined to comment further on the cost of the 150 units of CFRT but revealed that Bomba had sufficient budget for them.
He explained that the purpose of his working visit to several fire stations around the central region was to see the readiness of firefighters in facing the Northeast Monsoon as predicted by the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) which will begin in November and last until March next year.
According to him, his party has instructed its members to be in a state of readiness, especially in six states where floods often occur, namely Sarawak, Sabah, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.
“I and the Bomba Director General have been on the field to provide support and ensure that they are ready to conduct training, equipment testing as well as ensure skills and cooperation with various other rescue agencies in the local area that can move during flood rescue operations.
“During the visit to the station in the central area, I was satisfied with the preparation of each member as well as their cooperation with their respective District Offices which is the chairman of the disaster committee for the district level,” he explained.
Abdul Wahab visited the fire stations in the central area under Zone 4 Sibu yesterday and on Saturday.
Among the stations he visited were the Kanowit Fire and Rescue Station (BBP), BBP Song, BBP Kapit and BBP Sentral Sibu.
During the visits, he was briefed by the station heads on the readiness of stations to face the Northeast Monsoon 2021 as well as the operations of the fire stations as a whole.
