Only the fit will be promoted


Ready for action: Nga advised firefighters to maintain a healthy body and an active mind.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian firefighters will be required to have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 28 to be eligible for promotion, similar with the standards set in the police force, says Nga Kor Ming (pic).

The Housing and Local Government Minister said the ministry will discuss this with the Fire and Rescue Department director-general as the department aims to introduce the move next year.

“That’s why I advise firefighters to ensure they have a healthy body and an active mind,” he told the media after launching the Festive Season Preparedness Programme in conjunction with the Chinese New Year 2025 dubbed Ops Siaga Raya.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had recently said police officers must have a BMI of less than 28 to be considered for promotion, among other criteria.

“The initiative is crucial to guarantee the health and skills of police officers, thereby enhancing their ability to deliver excellent services to the community and the country,” he said.

Separately, Nga said property losses from fires decreased by more than RM1bil last year, falling from RM2.63bil in 2023 to RM1.5bil last year due to effective strategies, such as education and prevention.

The minister said to minimise these risks, the ministry through the Fire and Rescue Department emphasised five main aspects –education, enforcement, prevention, continuous monitoring, and strategic collaboration.“Additionally, deaths from drowning also decreased from 325 in 2023 to 279 last year, indicating our strategies are working,” he said.

In terms of readiness, he said all firefighters are on standby to meet the KPI (key performance indicator) of responding within 10 minutes. Currently, they arrive on average in about eight minutes.Volunteer fire teams, numbering around 461 across the country, are also being mobilised to ensure they are prepared during the festive season, said Nga.

He added that this year, the government has allocated about RM220mil for new assets to enhance the department’s capabilities.

By next year, it will receive three new AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters to enhance its operational capabilities, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas, he said.

Meanwhile, the department has frozen leave for 70% of its personnel as part of Ops Siaga Raya, ensuring the safety of property and lives as Malaysians return to their hometowns for celebrations.

Its director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said the department responded to 41,149 fire incidents last year, resulting in property losses of RM1.56bil.

During the Chinese New Year Ops 2024 alone, he said, 2,204 fire incidents were reported, with 200 involving building fires.

Investigations revealed that most building fires were caused by electrical issues, exacerbated by increased cooking, appliance use, and fireworks during the festive period.

In 2024, the department conducted 19,611 fire hazard inspections, surpassing its target by 15%. For 2025, it aims to complete 18,000 inspections nationwide.

Ops Siaga Raya will see targeted inspections at public venues from Jan 13 to Feb 6.

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