PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) believes it is important to introduce fire safety education in communities by involving all age groups, especially children.
Aiming to strengthen education by emphasising the principle of “prevention is better than cure”, its awareness programmes start for children from as young as five years using a phased, community-based approach, says department director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad (pic).
“We begin with Kelab Bomba Cilik for children aged five to six, where they are given basic fire safety lessons and early exposure to water hazards, as the department also serves as the secretariat of the Water Activities Safety Council,” he said when interviewed recently.
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“When they are involved from a young age, they indirectly become part of the firefighters’ family, which helps us engage with the community more effectively,” he added.
He said this education continues at secondary level through the Kadet Bomba programme, while at tertiary institutions, Fire Brigades have been set up in 12 institutions offering diploma and Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) qualifications, along with the Kor Siswa Bomba in three public universities.
Nor Hisham said the department also launched the Bomba Junior programme last year to expand fire safety education in primary schools.
“Previously, no such programme existed at the primary level. We initially targeted 16 teams, but the response was overwhelming and now we have 273 teams,” he said.
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The programme includes basic training such as marching drills conducted by firefighters and teachers, as well as swimming lessons as an additional safety skill.
“Our programmes aim to educate the public on fire prevention and emergency safety, train them to be more prepared while awaiting rescuers, and instil the understanding that safety is a shared responsibility, not solely the authorities’,” he said.
Community engagement is also promoted through talks, exhibitions, fire drills and initiatives such as “One Home, One Fire Extinguisher” and Sedia Urus Risiko Isirumah (Suri), with more than 12,000 programmes planned yearly.
Meanwhile, Nor Hisham said no fees are charged for events held at fire stations, except when the hall facilities are used.
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“Many people prefer to use the engine bay as it provides an atmosphere closer to the firefighting world, including for events such as birthday celebrations.
“When programmes are held at stations under the Community Fire Learning Centre (CFLC) initiative, we usually ask for 15 minutes to provide a fire prevention briefing,” he said.
He noted that CFLC brings firefighters closer to the community and reflects the department’s commitment to providing the best public service.
“As a government agency, we take this opportunity to provide a positive narrative about public service delivery.
“Such programmes also inspire children to consider firefighting as a career, while creating meaningful memories for them,” he said. – Bernama
