Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has reaffirmed its firm commitment to collaborating with regional and international partners to enhance preparedness and response to chemical threats. Its director-general, Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad, emphasized the department's focus on boosting national capabilities while fostering international cooperation with key organizations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, JBPM has established partnerships with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Department of Defence, and the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Centres of Excellence. These collaborations have benefitted over 10,000 participants from both local and international agencies, as highlighted in Nor Hisham's speech at the closing ceremony of the Course on Integrated Advanced Training and Exercise on Emergency Response to Chemical Incidents for the Asian Region 2025.
Nor Hisham reiterated JBPM's commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention, focusing on Article X concerning Assistance and Protection. As the national lead agency for hazardous materials and CBRN-related incidents, JBPM has trained hundreds of domestic respondents, including members of the Royal Malaysia Police, Science and Technology Research Institute for Defence, and the South East Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism.
The department's efforts aim to enhance mechanisms and principles of a whole-of-government approach to mitigating and handling chemical incidents, thereby strengthening compliance, preparedness, and capacity. On a broader scale, these efforts also facilitate and promote trade and investment in chemicals and chemical-based products.
Meanwhile, Miguel Albaladejo Pomares, senior programme officer of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), expressed appreciation for JBPM's efforts in preparing and conducting the course. He acknowledged the department's ability to handle complex tasks efficiently.
The event was also attended by National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) Malaysia chairman Datuk Bala Chandran Tharman and JBPM deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman. The seven-day training program, which started last Wednesday, included 23 participants from countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, and others, along with observers from Switzerland and South Africa.