KUALA LUMPUR: Only 20 per cent of more than 15,000 firefighters and officers of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) nationwide will be allowed to go on leave in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, this year.
JBPM director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said this was to ensure that there was no disruption to the department’s services during this period.
“Even though inter-state movements are not allowed, the JBPM will continue with preparedness activities involving 322 stations nationwide. JBPM firefighters and officers will continue to patrol their respective areas in addition to continuing other general duties.
“This is because even though the ban (on inter-state travel) still exists, the public may carry out activities in the state including recreation or earning a living, which clearly involves movement,“ he said at a press conference after presenting the JBPM 2020 Outstanding Service Award certificates to 79 firefighters and officers at the JBPM Cheras Quarters Complex, here, yesterday.
Mohammad Hamdan said that JBPM firefighters and officers on duty during Hari Raya Aidilfitri would be allowed to take turns to go on leave at a later date.
“If there are firefighters and officers who want to apply for outstation duties, they still need to comply with standard operating procedures by obtaining approval from the police,“ he said.
Asked if patrol activities would be carried out at most hotspots along main highways in conjunction with the festival, he said the JBPM was still waiting for further instructions from the National Security Council (MKN).
-Bernama
