MELAKA: Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said the Fire and Rescue Department is understaffed considering the population of the country.
He said the existing firemen which numbers more than 15,000 is inadequate against the country's population of 33.57 million.
"With the latest number exceeding 15,000 members compared to the 33.57 million Malaysian population, it makes a ratio of one fireman to 2,238 people.
"In addition to the fact that the number of emergency calls that need to be attended to exceeds 100,000 every year, I see that the number is completely unbalanced," he said while speaking at the 2023 World Firefighters Day celebration officiated by Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam at the Declaration of Independence Memorial Square, Banda Hilir, here today.
The event was also attended by Fire and Rescue Department director-general Abdul Wahab Mat Yassin, Melaka Fire and Rescue Department director Abu Bakar Katain and Housing, Local Government, Irrigation, Climate Change and Disaster Management senior exco Datuk Rais Yasin.
Nga said that due to the issue, the ministry will comprehensively scrutinise and provide suggestions for the restructuring of the department in phases.
"It will involve the upgrading of staffing and the filling of existing vacancies as well as considering increasing the number of the department personnel.
"This also includes welfare elements where this proposal will be reviewed before we take it to the Public Service Department (JPA) for further consideration of approval," he said.
Nga added that, as the country's main rescue and emergency organisation, the department is always ready to deal with any emergency situation, be it fire, accident, special services or any form of disaster.
Earlier, the celebration was attended by more than 3,000 visitors who did not miss the opportunity to witness shows and demonstrations from the department including from the Special, Tactical and Rescue Team (Storm).
The event, with the theme of 'Firefighters The Pillars of National Rescue' was enlivened with a parade of 30 contingents and 54 units of machinery involving more than 1,330 participants.
