Fire and Rescue Dept to receive RM267mil in funding

Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming

IPOH: In recognition of firefighters’ invaluable contributions, hailed as national heroes, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has announced a substantial allocation of RM267mil for the Fire and Rescue Department.

This funding, which will be allocated for procurement and purchasing of equipment, marks the highest ever provided to the department and coincides with International Firefighters Day.

“From the total, RM141mil will be used to purchase 150 advanced compact firefighting engines.

“The job scope of firemen is not just to put out fires.

“If there is a report of a snake in a house, they are there to catch it.

“If there is a bee hive, they will be there to destroy it and most recently in Melaka, they even caught a crocodile,” he said at a Hari Raya event on Saturday night.

Nga also said the national-level Firefighters Day will be held on May 4 in Tambun, Ipoh, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will officiate the event, scheduled to start at 9am.

“The event at the Lost World of Tambun will see water bombs, helicopter shows and handling of pythons with our ‘abang sado’ flexing their muscles,” he said.

Nga said that later this year, the Prime Minister will also launch the first Madani recreational park in Tambun.

He said the ministry aims to build 100 Madani recreational parks with Perak to have 22 such parks.

“We will allocate RM50mil for the purpose. On May 4, the Prime Minister will present RM10mil for the establishment of such parks in the state,” he said.

During the event, Nga also allocated RM20,000 to the Perak Media Practitioners Club.

This funding, he added, aims to support the club’s activities and recognise their vital role in the community.