MELAKA: The Melaka Fire and Rescue Department has frozen the leave of some 500 personnel as part of its preparations to face the Northeast Monsoon season.
Its director, Mohd Pisar Aziz, said the move was to ensure the department is at an optimal level to face any disasters, especially floods that often occur at year-end.
"For that, it is essential for them to always be in the field... as per usual practice, we have frozen their leave,” he told reporters in Ayer Keroh here on Thursday (Oct 17).
Earlier, he inaugurated the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tun Syed Ahmad Shahabudin Junior Fire and Rescue Team, with Melaka Education Department deputy director of Education, Pupil Development Sector Jamsari Mariman in attendance.
Mohd Pisar added that the fire department would conduct regular checks at flood-prone areas, including Lubok Cina and Sungai Siput in Alor Gajah, Sungai Putat in Melaka Tengah and Merlimau in Jasin.
"If we detect the water level to be dangerous, we will be on alert to ensure that we can swiftly rescue the residents if necessary,” he said.
Commenting on the Junior Fire and Rescue Team, he said the fire department is targeting 11 primary schools to establish such teams this year after it was first introduced in January.
He said that six primary schools—SK Bachang, SK Tanjung Minyak 2, SK Tun Razak Bukit Katil, SK Rumbia, SK Parit Melaka and SK Tun Syed Ahmad Shahabudin—have set up Junior Fire and Rescue Teams involving 308 students.
He said the initiative was also taken to teach students to appreciate and practice firefighting knowledge, foster a fire safety culture and create awareness of the dangers of fire and preventive measures.
"We also teach the pupils the basic modules of marching, first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), tying and knotting exercises, as well as water activity safety.” – Bernama
