GEORGE TOWN: The Central Fire and Rescue Station is not just any fire station. The iconic four-storey station was established in 1908, making it 117 years old. It was the first fire station in Penang and has served the public for more than a century.
But like any building of that age, it is in desperate need of upgrades, with new wiring and windows topping its refurbishment wish list.
Ironically, the station may itself be a fire hazard.
Station chief Mohamad Afizee Jamaluddin hopes allocations from Budget 2026 will trickle down to fire stations, especially his.
He said it has been more than a decade since the building’s electrical wiring was replaced.
“It’s a heritage building and can have issues with wiring,” he said when met at the station yesterday.
Mohamad Afizee said the windows also need attention, as termites have been chipping away at the wood around the panes.
“We are a small unit; we do hope for some minor upgrades, especially for the wiring.
“We don’t have much space, as we’re in the heritage area. Unlike other fire stations, all of us hang out indoors during our shift.
“Being at the centre of the heritage enclave means catering to a dense area, which is why upgrades would help,” he said.
He said there are 37 officers working in three shifts.
“We work from 8 to 8 (8am to 8pm or 8pm to 8am), and we appreciate any consideration given to us that might make our shifts a bit easier,” he said.
Meanwhile, fishermen are also hoping for good news from Budget 2026.
Fisherman R. Katereasian, 55, said that while they were grateful for the fishermen’s living allowance of RM300 a month, it barely covered their expenses.
“We use 50 litres of petrol each time we take our boats out.
“At RM1.65 per litre, that’s RM82.50 per trip, and we make about 20 trips a month.
“When the catch is good, there’s no problem. After paying our helpers, there’s a profit. But some days we ‘kena minyak’, meaning we don’t catch enough to even cover fuel costs.”
Registered fishermen have been buying petrol at RM1.65 per litre under the earlier subsidy scheme. They remain eligible for the scheme even after the Budi95 subsidy scheme was introduced.
“It’s great when we catch crabs, but otherwise we barely break even. Some days we just don’t go out because we know there’ll be no profit,” said Katereasian.
The fishermen’s representative for the Paramount area highlighted another significant expense they face – nets.
“The nets we use to catch crabs only last about five trips. Replacing them repeatedly is costly.
“We’d be grateful if the government took the costs into account and increased our allowance.
“It’s been consistent over the years, but if it were raised to RM500, it would go a long way for us fishermen,” he said.
