PM wants more effective training to avoid tragedy

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hopes more effective training could be conducted to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy in which six members of the Fire and Rescue Department drowned during a rescue mission.

He said the death of the six firemen while on a rescue mission for a teenager who fell into a disused mining pond in Taman Putra Perdana, Puchong, on Wednesday, was a sad tragedy.

“It is a tragedy that is saddening. We have yet to know why the six firemen drowned in a rescue mission to save a missing person.

“We hope their families will be patient because accidents do happen. We hope it will never happen again. Condolences to the family,” he told reporters after opening the 6th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management here yesterday.

Also present was Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Asked whether assistance would be given to families of the firemen concerned, Dr Mahathir said the government would look into the matter.

Six Fire and Rescue Department divers died during a search and rescue mission for a teenager who was feared to have fallen into the disused mining pond in Taman Putra Perdana, Puchon, at 9.15pm.

The tragedy is the first in the history of the department involving a unit of its personnel killed at one time.