KOTA KINABALU: Efforts are being made to establish 500 volunteer fire teams across Malaysia by 2030 in line with the country’s fire and rescue policy, says Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad.
The Fire and Rescue Department director-general said they were targeting to set up at least 70 teams in Sabah.
“I am confident that we will be able to reach the target. At present, Sabah has 46 volunteer fire teams with 914 registered personnel and 199 fire community teams with 2,793 members,” he said in his speech during the launching of the Putatan fire station by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming near here on Thursday (July 25).
He said the Putatan fire station project would serve Putatan and the surrounding districts of Penampang, Kota Kinabalu and Papar.
“The Putatan station is the 27th in Sabah and the 340th in Malaysia,” said Nor Hisham.
He said the long distances to rural and interior areas and the state’s unique topography posed significant challenges to the department’s effectiveness.
“We know that increasing the number of stations is a long-term improvement measure that depends on the government’s financial capability.
“Hence, one way to remedy the issues we are facing now is by empowering volunteer and community fire teams throughout the state,” Nor Hisham said.
