Service, welfare package for firefighters must consider retirement age: Sultan Nazrin

IPOH: The service package and welfare programmes drawn up for firefighters must take into account their condition at the age of retirement and not just while they are still in service, said the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah.
He said the package should be commensurate with the sacrifices they made, the responsibilities they bore and the risks they took.
Speaking in conjunction with the International Firefighters' Day today, Sultan Nazrin said the operations procedure and equipment provided to them must be reviewed to reduce their risks while performing their jobs.
"The training and operations procedures of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department must be re-engineered to improve the professionalism of personnel as well as the latest equipment provided to them to handle the challenges of the current scenario.
"The country and the people must also be made more aware of the sacrifices of the firefighters so that they can better appreciate them while still in service and after retirement," he said during the celebrations of the World Fire Fighters's Day 2017 at the Ipoh Municipal Hall here today.
With the theme "Firefighters, the Mainstay of Nation's Safety", the celebrations involved 27 contingents, 90 vehicle units and 2,100 participants.
Sultan Nazrin said it was not enough to show appreciation and respect for the services of the firefighters by giving medals, certificates, tokens and letters of appreciation.
"The celebrations of a commemorative day must include the spirit and meaning which touches the heart, as a form of remembrance, and to increase public awareness so that the real meaning and purpose (of the celebrations) are understood by the nation and people.
"If it is just ceremonial and ritualistic, it could deviate from the original purpose (of the celebrations) and would only be a waste of resources as it has failed to obtain the intended results," he said.
He added that the celebrations would be more meaningful if they included programmes which were impactful and could bring about substantive changes to the service with long-term benefits to the members. Sultan Nazrin said in the course of their duties, firefighters have made sacrifices, shown a high level of humanity, and carried out their duties regardless of time and how tired they were. — Bernama