A move to mitigate fire risks
Law mandating installation of home fire alarms to be tabled in next DUN Sarawak sitting — Deputy Premier
During last November’s DUN sitting, we were supposed to introduce the Buildings Ordinance Amendment Bill after obtaining feedback from Bomba (Fire and Rescue Department) to update our laws in ensuring that every house would have a fire alarm.
— Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Premier
KUCHING: The Buildings Ordinance 1994 Amendment Bill mandating the installation of fire alarms in houses will be tabled in the next Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
According to the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, the Bill is expected to be tabled in the middle of this year, and the new requirement would be introduced progressively starting with newly-constructed residential units.
“During last November’s DUN sitting, we were supposed to introduce the Buildings Ordinance Amendment Bill after obtaining feedback from Bomba (Fire and Rescue Department) to update our laws in ensuring that every house would have a fire alarm,” he said in his speech for a fire prevention awareness programme at the Batu Kawa Chung Hua Association’s community hall here yesterday.
Dr Sim said the State Attorney General’s Chambers had just informed about the amendment Bill being ready for tabling, and expert opinions had also been gathered from engineers and architects.
Similar to the practice in Australia, he said the availability of home fire alarms would allow Bomba to be alerted of any fire outbreaks and contain the spread in the shortest time possible.
On another note, Dr Sim thanked his federal counterpart, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Khor Ming, for approving the building of new Bomba stations in Batu Kawa and Kota Sentosa as both areas had been undergoing rapid development in the past years.
The new station in Batu Kawa would be located near the Moyan area, he added.
Meanwhile, Bomba Sarawak director Datu Khirudin Drahman said it was high time for relevant laws in the state to be updated, so as to mitigate fire risks.
He also said the construction of the new Bomba stations should be implemented within these two years.
According to Khirudin, currently there are 39 Bomba stations in Sarawak, but an assessment conducted by the department has indicated that the state would need a total of 66 stations to provide satisfactory response to any fire incidents.
Adding on, Dr Sim applauded the leadership of Khirudin in leading Bomba Sarawak to actively organise and hold fire prevention awareness and community engagement programmes throughout the year, particularly during the festive periods, which he observed had contributed to a decline in losses recorded due to fire incidents.