Penang: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has implemented several cost-saving measures, including limiting the movement of non-critical vehicles, following current fuel supply issues and rising costs. Its director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said the approach was taken to ensure that the use of diesel and petrol is optimised without affecting operational readiness.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, all state directors have also been instructed to reorganise departmental programmes, including public education activities, to be carried out more efficiently while minimising vehicle use. Nor Hisham emphasized that there is no compromise for fire operation vehicles in emergency situations, but for utility vehicles and non-critical activities, movement is being limited.
Additionally, the department is adopting fuel-saving measures such as conducting meetings online to reduce travel. Nor Hisham informed all state directors about these measures during a meeting. He mentioned this after the closing ceremony of the Volunteer Fire Brigade (PBS) Convention and the Penang JBPM Public Safety and Awareness Campaign, which was officiated by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow at the Batu Kawan Stadium. State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jason H'ng Mooi Lye was also present at the event.
Nor Hisham acknowledged the PBS's concerns regarding fuel costs and stated that the issue will be discussed periodically before being considered by the government for additional needs and support mechanisms. He noted that PBS has not yet received fuel subsidies, but this matter could be reviewed by the government since they also use diesel and petrol for operations.
In another development, Nor Hisham reported a 40 percent increase in fire incidents over the past two weeks compared to the same period previously. This rise involves not only the number of cases but also the expansion of affected areas, including fires exceeding 100 hectares in locations such as Pahang and Johor.
Most fires involve secondary forest areas and oil palm plantations, necessitating complex and continuous firefighting efforts. The current hot and dry weather conditions are contributing to the increased fire risk, along with factors such as open burning. Nor Hisham expressed hope that the scheduled cloud seeding operations would help address the situation by providing water sources and ensuring that existing fires can be fully extinguished.