SIBU: Sibu MP Oscar Ling has taken a strong stance against those who damage fire hydrants in residential and urban areas, as such acts can have life-threatening consequences.
He stressed that if a fire were to occur in these areas and fire hydrants had been damaged and rendered unusable, leading to loss of life, the perpetrators could be held accountable for deliberate homicide.
“They are highly irresponsible, lack civic and social morals. They are akin to burying a catastrophic crisis that could trigger a disaster,” he said in his Facebook post on Friday (Oct 20).
Ling said he had received several complaints from the public on the matter and found that several fire hydrants had been damaged and were no longer functional.
Consequently, he informed the Fire and Rescue Department and lodged a police report on the matter for further investigation.
“Many fire hydrants in Sibu are damaged. Broken screw threads prevented the fire hoses from being connected to the water pipes for use. For example, the fire hydrants in front of the government clinic in Jalan Hock Lai and Jalan Oya are no longer usable.”
He hoped that the authorities can send personnel to conduct a more comprehensive inspection of the damage to Sibu’s fire hydrants and repair them as soon as possible so that they can function properly.
“This is to ensure that in case of a fire, the Fire and Rescue Department can quickly access the water pipes and extinguish the flames, saving lives and minimising damage to buildings and property.
Ling called on those responsible for vandalising fire hydrants to refrain from such actions as this equipment is crucial for protecting the lives and property of Sibu’s residents.
“It is also the only way for the Fire and Rescue Department to gain access to water supply to fight fire.”
He also called on the public to be vigilant and take collective action.
“If you find damaged fire hydrants in your residential area or elsewhere, please report it to the authorities immediately to prevent any delays in responding to accidents or water shortages.
“If you see someone damaging fire hydrants, use your mobile phone to record this and report them to the police.”
