KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) – The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) hopes the government will consider the aspects of fire, rescue, safety and humanitarian services in Budget 2020, which will be tabled in Parliament this Friday.

JBPM director-general Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said these aspects include the construction of new fire stations, additional fire services operation assets and equipment as well as search and rescue (SAR) duties on water and land.

“The fire department also hopes this Budget will take into account the aspects of handling hazardous materials by the department’s Hazardous Materials Unit (HAZMAT), apart from industrial and domestic accidents,” he told Bernama here recently.

He added that new fire stations would strengthen the safety of towns, rural areas and the interior while the addition of operational assets was necessary to ensure smooth operations in high-rise buildings, forests and special structures.

 It is hoped that allocations could be channelled towards the maintenance of existing assets as well as the modernisation of fire-fighting equipment, he said.

 Meanwhile, Civil Defence Force (APM) director-general Datuk Roslan Wahab urged the government to give due consideration to the allowance of APM personnel and the maintenance of logistics equipment.

The current allowances for rank and file personnel, and officers are at RM8 and RM9 an hour respectively.

“The strength of APM lies in the volunteers, as more personnel need to be deployed to the scene,” he said.

-- BERNAMA