PETALING JAYA: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has allocated RM200mil to strengthen the Fire and Rescue Department’s operational capabilities and disaster preparedness, says its minister Nga Kor Ming.
He said this was particularly important as the country recorded more than RM2.4bil in property losses due to fires last year.
Nga added that he intended to upgrade the existing fire station from Category B to Category C to enhance its operational capacity and meet the community’s growing safety needs.
In recognition of the country’s volunteer fire brigades, he also announced a RM20,000 contribution to the Teluk Intan Volunteer Fire Brigade.
The Fire and Rescue Department said in a statement on June 15 that it was on full alert to address the potential increase in disaster risks arising from the El Nino phenomenon and southwest monsoon, which were expected to influence the country’s weather conditions until early 2027.
The department said it had mobilised operational and logistical resources and strengthened coordination with other agencies to ensure it could respond effectively to safeguard lives and property.
“All personnel and assets are currently at the highest level of readiness to face any risk of open burning, including forest and peatland fires, which typically increase during prolonged hot and dry weather conditions,” he said at the Teluk Intan Volunteer Fire Brigade’s light fire rescue tender handover ceremony yesterday.
It added that a Departmental Preparedness Directive for the 2026 Dry Season and Peat Forest Fire Season had been issued to guide state Fire and Rescue offices in implementing preparedness measures and contingency plans.
It had also assessed the functionality of critical infrastructure, including tube wells, water check dams and watchtowers to ensure they were ready to support firefighting operations.
