Nor Hisham (centre), pictured at the awards and presentation ceremony on March 11, says the department is concerned that bankruptcy could affect the morale and work of the firefighters concerned. – BERNAMApic
ALOR SETAR: The Fire and Rescue Department has taken disciplinary action against 13 firefighters who have been declared bankrupt.
Director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said standing as guarantors for loans was among the causes of bankruptcy.
"There is also one (firefighter) whose name is listed in a company . When the company had problems ... he was also affected.
"Another is because of credit card debt," he told reporters after presenting the Fire Service Medal, 2024 Excellent Service Awards (APC) and 30-Year Service Certificates here on Tuesday (March 11).
He added that the 13 cases had been detected since 2020.
Nor Hisham said while the number may seem small compared to the total number of over 16,000 firefighters and officers nationwide, it remains a serious concern as it could impact the performance of those affected.
"When individuals face bankruptcy, financial struggles can lower their morale and affect their work.
"However, we monitor salary statuses every month. If any warning signs arise, we take immediate action," he said.
Nor Hisham also said internal integrity measures had been taken against 19 firefighters over the past two years for inappropriate comments or posts on social media.
"Of these, some only received warnings, while others faced penalties such as disqualification from consideration for APC and medals for six months, depending on the severity of the offence," he added. – Bernama
