Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid

KUCHING, Sept 29 -- The Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) hopes the federal government will give priority to the provision of assets and equipment to over 30 fire stations that will be completed next year.

Its director-general Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said besides assets such as vehicles and machines, these new fire stations would also mean more manpower needed, thus involving additional expenditure.

“Therefore, we hope the government will give due consideration to meeting the JBPM’s requirements as there is the pressing need of dealing with the ever-increasing emergency situations from day to day,” he told reporters at the pre-launch of the Kuching Firefighter’s Run, here, today.

Budget 2020 will be tabled by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the Dewan Rakyat this Oct 11.

Mohammad Hamdan said the assets and equipment were necessary to ensure smooth operations by the department.

On the run organised by Sarawak JBPM and scheduled for March 15 next year from the grounds of the Kuching South City Council building, he said, opened to the public, it was aimed at forging closer ties between the public and JBPM.

-- BERNAMA