malaysiang
KANGAR: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department is gearing up for the northeast monsoon season with a strategic focus on 4,619 identified flood-prone areas across the nation. Its director-general, Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad, announced that the department is mobilizing all 24,263 personnel, comprising 13,646 full-time officers, 2,196 auxiliary firefighters, and 8,421 volunteer firefighters, to be on high alert.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nor Hisham emphasized the importance of ensuring that all assets and equipment are in peak condition. To achieve this, the department is carrying out comprehensive logistics checks and testing via the MTL Log Day initiative, which is being implemented simultaneously across the country. He also highlighted the readiness of the Rapid Emergency Deployed (RED) Teams, which are prepared to be deployed as strike teams to enhance operational efficiency in areas that may be affected. Currently, 22 RED Teams are on standby, capable of mobilizing within an hour of receiving orde
rs.
Furthermore, the department has activated Regional Forward Bases to effectively manage machinery and rescue equipment, as well as to facilitate manpower distribution across three main zones: northern (Penang), eastern (Terengganu), and southern (Johor). This strategy aims to bolster on-field operations. Nor Hisham also mentioned that internal and inter-agency training exercises under the Disaster Management Exercise (DMEX) have been conducted to enhance personnel skills and coordination with partner agencies in preparing for potential flood scenarios.
Additionally, the director-general addressed issues of misconduct within the department, revealing that 273 complaints were recorded from 2019 to October 2024. These complaints included allegations of scandals, sexual harassment, power abuse, corruption, and embezzlement. Disciplinary action was taken against 74 personnel for offenses such as drug abuse, absenteeism, involvement in gangsterism, corruption, and sexual crimes. Nor Hisham stressed that the de
partment maintains a strict no-tolerance policy towards disciplinary misconduct and has implemented several proactive measures to strengthen integrity. These initiatives include the Anti Bribery Management System, now in its fourth year, and the appointment of 79 Integrity Marshals at the state level to support and monitor the Integrity Department.
