JOHOR BARU: A group of dedicated men and women from security agencies will be forgoing Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations this year just to make sure that it will be a safe festive season for all.
Among them is fire and rescue officer Nirwana Irwan Shah, 30, who would be on duty during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period at the Larkin fire and rescue station.
“I have been with the department for five years now and only once I was granted leave for Hari Raya, which was two years ago.
“I do not see it as an issue as my duty and responsibility to the public is much more important. But I do miss my family and relatives back home at Kota Belud in Sabah,” she said in an interview.
Nirwana also said that she came from a large family where there would always be a mass gathering each time during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“Thankfully, technology has made it much easier for people to stay connected where I always video call my parents and relatives just to see them.
“However, I do have my firemen ‘family’ at the station to keep me happy, where we have a close knit relationship just like any other families,” she added.
Meanwhile, another fireman, Mohd Haizrul Rahmad, 41, who has been at the department for 22 years, said it was a norm for most of his colleagues to be working during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“Usually, about 20% of the firemen at a fire station will get leave during festive periods such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri while the rest would have to be on duty.
“It is always a busy period for firemen as we have to be on standby for any kind of emergencies that will usually happen during the celebration,” he added.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) maritime second lieutenant Mohd Othman Sapiin, 34, was hoping that Hari Raya would fall tomorrow.
“If Hari Raya is today, then I will be working on the first day of the festive season, which is not an issue for me as it is not my first time.
“Previously, I was stationed at the Tawau maritime zone in Sabah, which is under Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), for about nine years where I hardly got leave for Hari Raya,” he said, adding that he was transferred to Johor maritime in July last year.
Mohd Othman also said that he was grateful to have a wife who understood his duty in safeguarding Malaysian waters from any threats.
Johor maritime petty officer Mohd Azahar Che Azmi, 43, who hails from Alor Setar in Kedah, said that he would be missing his family in Penang.
“Every day is a busy period for us at the state maritime headquarters as we have to keep a close watch on hundreds of vessels in our waters.
“We have a microwave in our pantry to heat frozen ketupat or any Hari Raya dishes that some of my colleagues will bring for us to eat.
“But if an emergency happened, then we would hardly have time to eat,” he added.
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