Firefighters to blaze the roads
Dept to station 9,000 personnel at black spots for festive season
Over 9,000 firefighters will patrol highways to rescue accident victims as part of Ops Raya 2012.
PUCHONG: Over 9,000 firefighters will be patrolling roads and highways to rescue accident victims as part of Ops Raya 2012.
Personnel from 264 fire stations will be conducting inspections on premises to prevent fires under the annual safety exercise which starts on Friday and ends on Aug 26.
“They will also be stationed at 15 locations along highways, with personnel from the police force, Civil Defence Department, and St John’s Ambulance,” Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung told reporters after launching Ops Raya at the IOI Mall here.
He said patrol units would be monitoring 151 black spots along highways and federal roads.
He said volunteer firefighters would be on the alert at their own villages.
Chor announced that volunteer firefighters would be insured against injuries and death starting next year.
“Each volunteer will receive a personal accident policy with coverage up to RM40,000 for death and up to RM20,000 for injuries,” said Chor, adding that there were 13,992 volunteer firefighters from 309 brigades nationwide.
“They will be covered whether they are on or off duty,” said Chor.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, the state Road Transport Department will monitor seven deadly stretches in Terengganu during the balik kampung exodus for Hari Raya from Aug 12 to 26.
The stretches are KM126 Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kuantan (Kijal), KM75 Jalan Jeranganu-Jabor (Bukit Besi) and KM45 Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Bukit Besi.
The four other problem spots are KM45 Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kuantan (Rantau Abang), KM3 Jalan Kuala Berang-Tanggol and KM48 of Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kota Baru.
Terengganu Road Transport Department director Abdul Rahman Emang Anyie announced that the department would check and inspect all 117 express buses in the state.
“We are particularly concerned with the condition of the brakes and tyres.
“Any bus not in good condition will not be allowed to operate,” he told a press conference after conducting an inspection at a bus depot in Manir yesterday.