KUALA LUMPUR: A new Fire and Rescue Department K9 Dog Detection Unit operations centre will be set up in Bertam, Penang, says Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad.
The Bomba director general said it will improve K9 coverage for the northern states.
Nor Hisham said the construction cost of RM19mil has been approved by the Finance Ministry, adding that the centre will occupy about five acres at the Bertam Fire and Rescue Station.
He said RM300,000 has been allocated for preliminary works, including detailed design and geological studies.
“If everything goes smoothly, the tender process is expected to begin by 2026 at the earliest,” he said.
He said construction is planned for two years, from 2027 to 2028.
“Operations are expected to begin by early 2029,” he added.
He said the centre is key because K9 units are now deployed from Kuala Lumpur to the northern states, adding this slows things down as moving the dogs takes time.
Nor Hisham said it affects forensic work such as fire investigation when chemical traces evaporate and added it has an impact in finding missing persons in water-related search and rescue cases.
He said delays mean a person or body may drift further from the original scene.
He spoke at a press conference during the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s Sentuhan Kejayaan programme on Monday (Nov 17).
