BENTONG: The Sultan of Pahang has called for fire extinguishers to be made compulsory in homes and proposed the establishment of a voluntary fire and rescue unit at Kampung Baru Karak near here.
“Make fire extinguishers compulsory in every household, if possible,” he said during a visit to the Chinese new village on Sunday (Feb 15).
Extending his greetings in both Mandarin and Cantonese, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, wished the villagers a happy Chinese New Year and good health.
He also expressed gladness at seeing victims of the devastating 2021 blaze finally moving into their newly rebuilt homes.
On Oct 1, 2021, a massive fire razed Kampung Baru Karak, destroying 48 houses and eight shoplots.
The Sultan thanked the state government and leaders of the fire victims’ household-rebuilding committee — including former Bentong MPs Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek and Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai — for their efforts to rebuild the affected homes.
He also expressed gratitude to Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, group executive chairman of FBG Holdings Berhad and an anak Bentong, who had mobilised his corporate resources to support the reconstruction project.
Responding to the Sultan’s suggestion of setting up a voluntary fire unit, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Mohd Razam Taja Rahim noted that a fire station is located just 400m from the village.
However, he added that the department is considering forming a community fire and rescue squad to educate residents and raise fire safety awareness.
