Financial aid and zakat contribution for next of kin

PUTRAJAYA: The next of kin of the six divers of the Fire and Rescue Department’s Underwater Rescue Team who drowned during a rescue operation at a mining pool in Taman Putra Perdana, Puchong, will get financial aid.

The aid will come from their insurance, pension and ex-gratia through the Firemen Welfare Fund.

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad Baharuddin Shah said: “Their welfare is priority and we will help as best as we can.”

However, the amount of financial aid was not disclosed.

On a suggestion by National Water Activity Safety Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye to form a commission of inquiry to look into existing standard operating procedures involving water rescue, Raja Kamarul Bahrin said investigations conducted at ministry-level were sufficient.

“We will conduct our own investigations.

“There is no need for it (the commission of inquiry) for now.”

He had instructed municipal councils to put up clear warning signs in accident-prone areas apart from cordoning them off.

In Shah Alam, the Selangor government said it would contribute zakat to the divers’ families.

Menteri Besar Datuk Amirudin Shaari said the contribution would be worked out by the state government and Lembaga Zakat Selangor.

“I will invite the victims’ family members to the office to hand the zakat contribution to ease their burden.”

He said the state government would give a contribution of RM20,000 to each family and heir of the firemen.