KUALA LUMPUR: A former deputy urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister praised Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin in the Dewan Rakyat today.
It was over Zuraida’s decisive handling of the tragic deaths of six firemen in October and a fireman injured in temple riots last month.
Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique said that Zuraida not only practiced sensitivity but managed both incidents well.
The first incident involved the drowning of six firemen on Oct 3, and the second one was the brutal beating of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim in temple riots last month.
“I wish to congratulate (Zuraida) for taking quick action in helping out in the case of the six firemen who drowned in the line of duty.
“She (Zuraida) came down to the ground and to the temple to resolve the problem. In fact, (Zuraida) and her deputy minister also helped in transferring Adib from the Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) to the National Heart Institute (IJN).
“At times, ministers are not aware that they should be doing these things.
“It is hoped that other ministers can learn from how Ampang (In reference to Zuraida, whose constituency is Ampang) carried out (her) duty,” she said.
Halimah was speaking during committee-stage debate on the Supply Bill 2019 for Zuraida’s ministry at the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon.
In the October tragedy, six firemen from the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) drowned while carrying out an operation to locate a teenage boy who had fallen into a former mining pool at Taman Putra Perdana, Puchong.
On Nov 27, Adib, 24, was seriously injured when beaten by an unknwn group of people during riots at the Sri Maha Mariamman temple at USJ 25, Subang Jaya, Selangor.
Halimah was deputy urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister from May, 2013, to May this year.
Following the 14th General Elections on May 9, Zuraida helmed the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
