Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is anticipating a sharp rise in special rescue operations this year, involving not only animals and poisonous insects but also unusual and sometimes emotional requests from the public. Its director-general, Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad, said that as of last month, JBPM had already responded to more than 32,000 special rescue cases for 2025, compared to 23,999 cases recorded throughout the whole of last year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the director-general highlighted the variety of cases handled by the department, including catching snakes, lizards, bees, and wasps, as well as rescuing cats stuck on roofs or trees. JBPM also receives non-life-threatening calls, such as retrieving keys that have fallen into drains or helping when a neighbor's chicken refuses to come out from under a car.

Nor Hisham explained that while some cases may appear trivial or even amusing, JBPM always assesses them from the standpoint of safety and the caller's ability to resolve the situation on their own. He recounted an incident on the Penang Bridge where a caller felt trapped in their car due to panic, despite one door being functional.

He shared other unusual cases, such as emergency calls triggered by green flies mistaken for wasps or drones stuck in trees but reported as if a person were trapped. There have also been requests to catch catfish in drains or deal with fireflies entering homes after a tree branch broke a window.

The director-general noted that many people today no longer keep tools like saws, machetes, or ladders at home, leading them to rely on JBPM for assistance with such issues. He emphasized the department's dual approach to service: assessing the necessity of deploying personnel and respecting the public's trust in the fire department's capabilities.

Nor Hisham also mentioned the importance of educating the public on the proper use of emergency services, especially regarding non-threatening wildlife. He suggested the potential development of educational programs to address changing perceptions and promote basic safety knowledge at home.