Improved SOP for night rescue in swiftflowing waters coming up — Minister

KUALA LUMPUR: The Housing and Local Government Ministry expects to get an improved standard operation procedure ( SOP) for rescue operations at night in swiftflowing waters, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.

Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the ministry was awaiting a report from the independent committee established to investigate the recent rescue operation that claimed the lives of six fire and rescue personnel in a Puchong mining pool.

The committee, comprising professionals, non-governmental organisation representatives and relevant experts, would also put forward recommendations to improve the existing SOP, she said during the Ministers’ Question Time in the House.

Zuraida was replying to a question from Tan Sri Annuar Musa ( BN-Ketereh) who wanted to know the ministry’s measures to improve the SOP for operations at night in swift-flowing waters so as to avert a similar tragedy.

Six firefighters drowned on Oct 3 in the operation at the mining pool in Puchong where they were searching for a teenage boy who had gone missing after falling into the water.

The body of the boy was found later.

Zuraida said the ministry would also examine the rescue equipment to ensure its suitability, as well as provide comprehensive and periodic training to all search- and- rescue personnel. — Bernama