PEKAN, Oct 21 — The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) inspected and tested 1,144 assets today and declared they were in good condition, said the Deputy Secretary-General (Housing and Community Wellbeing) of the Ministry of Local Government Development Suhaimi Ali@Ahmad.
All the assets are placed in 337 Fire and Rescue stations nationwide and ready to be mobilised, especially during the monsoon season.
The inspected assets include multi-functional machinery like light transport vehicles, and heavy transport, besides marine vehicles and air assets like helicopters and drones.
“Today, a comprehensive inspection and testing of the department’s logistics has been carried out; this preparedness involves the entire personnel and logistics, including coordination like joint training, patrolling activities, and risk analysis in identified hotspots.
“It also involves analysing secondary effects like landslides, fallen trees, and disconnected areas requiring assistance from the department,” he said during a press conference after officiating the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) preparedness JBPM 2023/2024 launch ceremony today.
A water rescue simulation performance was also held at the ceremony, followed by the release of machinery and departmental assets to symbolise the launch.
Suhaimi said about 750 locations have been identified in Pahang as flood risk areas, besides three water surge phenomenon risk areas and 25 critical slope locations.
JBPM has also set up 13 MTL Rapid Action Teams in 11 states and two Federal Territories in Peninsular Malaysia.
This team comprises 15 personnel per team, including officers from the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) and Emergency Medical and Rescue Services (EMRS), who will be ready daily at the location designated by the state JBPM.
In the meantime, he said an average of 302 deaths due to drowning were reported yearly from 2019 to last year, much higher than deaths caused by fire incidents.
Suhaimi reminded the community, especially parents, to monitor children’s activities during the MTL period, which is expected to start from November this year until March next year.
— Bernama
