Hamdan: Easier for volunteer firemen to enjoy benefits under JBPM
BELAGA: The establishment of the Voluntary Firefighting Teams ( PBS) through the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) will facilitate regulations for payment of allowance, provision of grants and members’ insurance coverage.
JBPM director- general, Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said Fire Safety Division director, Edwin Galan Teruki has prepared all relevant matters to be tabled to Minister of Finance Lim Guan Eng to ease payment process.
“The government will provide PBS with affordable equipment while members will be paid special allowance according to the hours they put in.
“Under the supervision of JBPM, provision of grants, insurance schemes for members will be more systematic and running of PBS will be more organised especially in the remote areas,” he said when visiting Uma Daro PBS in Sungai Asap here.
Also present was Sarawak JBPM director Khirudin Drahman.
Meanwhile, Uma Daro PBS member Madang Lidam, who lives in a longhouse said he joined the team to act as fire cover before the nearest fire and rescue station members arrive to fight the blaze.
“Uma Daro PBS members are taught how to handle firefighting tools such as hose reels and fire extinguishers.” said Madang, 56, who joined the team last year.
He said the fire jackets provided for Uma Daro PBS yesterday would encourage members to continue helping the surrounding communities in case of fire.