Paltry compound reason why many don't take fire hydrant misuse seriously, says Nga

SHAH ALAM: As the compound for misuse of Fire and Rescue Department fire hydrants is miniscule, many do not regard the offence as something serious, says Nga Kor Ming.

The Local Government Development Minister said that to counter this, the Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341) needs to be studied to enable the compound to be increased and the wrongdoers charged in court.

Nga, who spoke to reporters after attending the ministry’s appreciation award ceremony at the MBSA Convention Centre here Tuesday (May 16), also warned the public not to steal water from fire hydrants.

“The compound may be small but the message is very clear. Do not take water from the Fire Department’s hydrants without permission," he added.

The minister said he was looking into increasing the compound from RM100 to RM500.

Nga was responding to queries as to why Rantau Panjang MP Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff was not brought to book for taking water without permission from a fire hydrant to be distributed to her constituents earlier this month.

Instead, a contractor who had drawn water from the hydrant for Siti Zailah was slapped with the RM100 compound notice.

Nga explained that this was in accordance with the legislation.

“According to the Act, only the person who commits the act (of stealing the water) will be compounded. I am sympathetic towards the contractor as he was just doing the work he was paid to do,’’ said Nga.

On another matter, Nga said the indiscriminate dumping of garbage at low-cost flats in Johor will be taken care of within the next two days.

Nga had an audience with Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in regards to the matter on Monday (May 15).

The audience was posted on Sultan Ibrahim’s Facebook page where the Ruler had chided the current garbage disposal contractor there for "unsatisfactory" work done.

Sultan Ibrahim also said he had gone personally to inspect the situation and it appeared as if his people were "living in chicken coops".

“I have received the pictures of the garbage from the Sultan of Johor and will look into it immediately," said Nga.