Sarawak to have 2 dedicated helicopters for fire and rescue operations — DG

The Borneo Post journalist Gary Adit (left) receiving his award from Wan Mohd during the ceremony yesterday. — Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) will soon have two dedicated helicopters for fire and rescue operations in the state.

Disclosing this yesterday, its director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Noor Ibrahim said the state presently shares two helicopters with Sabah, which are stationed in Miri.

He also said the two helicopters in Miri will be stationed at the Kuching International Airport (KIA) after Sabah has got its own two new helicopters.

“The two new helicopters for Sabah are of the Agusta Westland AW189 models and they will be stationed in Sabah. We expect them to be delivered by the end of next year or the latest in early 2018,” he said.

“Should there be a need to use more than two helicopters in any of the two East Malaysian states, our department will dispatch one or two helicopters from the neighbouring state,” he added.

Meanwhile, Wan Mohd said he hoped the government would approve the budget to build more fire stations throughout the state. Although the current number of fire stations was adequate, he said the department needed more stations to operate more efficiently as Sarawak is a big state.

“As for right now, we get help from relevant agencies. One of the agencies which are working closely with for example is the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency because they have Bombadier helicopter which can help us in search and rescue purposes,” he said.

Bomba state director Nor Hisham Mohamad said the department had received a RM5 million budget to build the Fire and Rescue Department airbase at KIA.

“After evaluating the site’s condition and the works needed to be done there, we need at least RM12 million to complete the project. We are in the process of requesting for more finanacing from the government,” he pointed out.

Both Wan Mohd and Hisham were speaking during the Bomba Awards Ceremony at a local hotel here yesterday.

During the event, 28 retired Fire and Rescue Department officers, 21 Kuching-based journalists and 80 officers received awards from the department.

 

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