SELANGOR, Feb 4 — The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is allocating a financial assistance grant of RM2.593 million to empower and increase the membership of the Volunteer Fire Brigade (PBS) throughout the country, said JBPM director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohamad.
Speaking at a gathering with PBS members in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration in Tanjung Sepat here today, he said there were 367 PBS branches across the country as of last December with over 8,000 members.
He said of this amount, RM1,101,000 is to be distributed among the 367 PBS, RM567,500 for the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and RM375,000 in incentives for the purchase of Fire Control Posts for PBS nationwide.
In addition, he said RM550,000 is to pay for free group insurance coverage throughout the year in the event of injury, accident or death to PBS members.
“This provision is one of the strategies that will be implemented to achieve this year’s empowerment target,” said Nor Hisham, who is also aiming for seven more PBS teams to be established this year.
He said the distribution of Volunteer Fire Response Vehicles (VFRV) in stages to PBS is also being done according to priority, besides the implementation of a benchmark for the best PBS management annually.
— Bernama
