Retiree relishes moment of pride

KOTA KINABALU: A retiree never thought he would survive 41 years of service at the Fire and Rescue Department here, especially as he was almost electrocuted in his first year of work.

Hussin@ Rudiee Antang, 61, recalled an unforgettable moment when there was a live wire dangling above his head while putting out a fire in Lahad Datu.

“It was in 1975. A fire broke out at a warehouse and one of the wires was about to fall on my colleague and I.

“Both of us could have died if we had made a wrong move,” he said.

Hussin was one of 19 personnel who received their certificates from the department’s director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim at the state headquarters here yesterday.

He is one of the longest serving government servants in the department nationwide.

Hussin reported for duty when he was 18, and was passionate about helping people, whether as a firefighter, operator or as officer in several districts in Sabah.

“Those who want to become rescue personnel have to devote their time and commitment as the job involves lives,” he said.

Wan said retirees should continue to serve society for as long as they could.

“Retired firemen are valuable assets as they can contribute their skills and knowledge.”