BINTULU (Feb 4): Residential safety and disaster preparedness must be continuously strengthened to reduce the risk of fires and natural disasters that could result in loss of life and property, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
According to a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report, he emphasised that public awareness of fire safety still requires serious attention, particularly through ongoing education and early preventive measures at the community level.
Dr Sim said most fire incidents are caused by minor negligence, including unsafe use of electrical appliances and improper home wiring.
“Safety at home should never be taken lightly, as small lapses can have major consequences for lives and property,” he said when officiating the ‘Komuniti Prihatin, Kediaman Selamat Bersama Bomba Sarawak 2026’ programme on Tuesday.
He added that basic fire safety knowledge can help the public respond more calmly, systematically and effectively in emergencies.
Dr Sim also cautioned that increased use of electrical appliances and cooking activities, especially during festive seasons, could heighten the risk of fire if not handled properly.
He further stressed the importance of preparedness for natural disasters, particularly flooding during the Northeast Monsoon, which requires heightened readiness at the individual, family and community levels.
Past experiences with major floods, he said, should encourage the public to stay alert to weather warnings, prepare emergency plans and follow authorities’ instructions to minimise the impact of disasters.
Also present at the programme were Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang Leong Ming, Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department director Jamri Masran, Bintulu district officer Awang Mohammed Nizam Awang Ali Bolhan, and Bintulu district police chief Supt Nixon Joshua Ali.
PONTIAN: Kebakaran hutan tanah gambut seluas kira-kira lima ekar di Batu 30, Pangkalan Raja di sini berjaya dikawal dalam tempoh kurang dua jam oleh pasukan Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) hari ini.
Ketua Operasi Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Pekan Nanas, Md. Bakhtiar Chik berkata, pihaknya menerima panggilan kecemasan daripada ketua kampung pada pukul 9.10 pagi sebelum tujuh anggota bomba digerakkan ke lokasi kejadian.
“Punca kebakaran dikenal pasti berpunca daripada pembakaran sampah yang tidak terkawal sehingga merebak dan membakar kawasan hutan tanah gambut,” katanya kepada Utusan ketika ditemui di lokasi kejadian.
Beliau berkata, terdapat 14 buah rumah yang terletak berhampiran kawasan kebakaran, namun tindakan pantas pasukan bomba berjaya mengelakkan api daripada merebak ke kawasan penempatan penduduk.
Tambahnya, kebakaran berjaya dikawal sepenuhnya pada pukul 10.45 pagi, namun kerja-kerja pemadaman masih diteruskan bagi memastikan api benar-benar padam dan tidak berlaku kebakaran berulang.
“Kami akan terus bersiap siaga dan memantau kawasan ini bagi mengelakkan kejadian sama berulang,” katanya. – UTUSAN
JELEBU – Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR) sedang melaksanakan sebanyak 99 projek pembaikan cerun di seluruh negara tahun ini melibatkan kos keseluruhan RM77.3 juta.
Menterinya, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi berkata, daripada jumlah itu, 90 projek merupakan sambungan dari tahun lalu melibatkan kos RM59.7 juta, satu projek diberi keutamaan (RM1 juta), manakala lapan projek yang mendapat kelulusan kerja khas (RM16.6 juta) akan dilaksanakan tahun ini berdasarkan tahap keutamaan dan risiko kritikal.
Menurut beliau, bagi tahun ini kerajaan turut meluluskan peruntukan berjumlah RM260 juta di bawah program Slope Safety Works in High Risk Areas.
“Lokasi cerun berisiko tinggi sentiasa bertambah. Justeru, agihan peruntukan dibuat berdasarkan tahap kritikal sesuatu kawasan. Kebiasaannya, bencana alam dan faktor cuaca, khususnya hujan lebat, memberi kesan besar kepada kestabilan cerun.
“Kita tidak mahu gangguan jalan raya menyebabkan rakyat terputus hubungan. Saya sendiri baru pulang dari Gua Musang dua hari lalu dan kerosakan yang berlaku agak besar serta memerlukan tindakan segera,” katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditemui pada Majlis Penyerahan Projek Pembaikan Cerun Very High Frequency (VHF) Telapak Buruk di Dataran Bukit Tangga, di sini, hari ini.
Mengulas lanjut, Alexander berkata, projek pembaikan cerun di laluan VHF Telapak Buruk itu merupakan sebahagian daripada komitmen kerajaan di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Ke-12 (RMK-12) bagi memastikan stesen pemancar Telapak Buruk dapat beroperasi tanpa gangguan.
“Projek ini melibatkan kos sebanyak RM109,054,966 dan dilaksanakan oleh Jabatan Kerja Raya melalui Arahan Kerja kepada kontraktor jangka panjang, bermula pada 24 November 2022 dan telah siap sepenuhnya pada 14 Oktober 2025,” katanya. – KOSMO! ONLINE
SHAH ALAM, Feb 4 — Firefighting operations at the Kuala Langat Selatan Forest Reserve, Banting near here are still ongoing, with 7.69 hectares of the area still burning out of a total of 22.66 hectares.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Zone 5 (KLIA) head Senior Fire Officer II Mohamad Issmanto Md Pono said the operation, which has entered its second day, has so far successfully extinguished 14.97 hectares with a force of 41 officers and personnel from related agencies.
“The fire is still active but has not affected nearby settlements and the nearby Water Treatment Plant (LRA).
“The fire brigade together with the Civil Defence Force (APM) are extinguishing the area around the main road while the Forestry Department is extinguishing the interior with tubewell water,” he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, the media reported that Selangor JBPM operations officer Hamdan Hamzah said a forest of about four hectares near the Sungai Kelambu Water Treatment Plant, Banting near here was on fire in the incident around noon today.
He said his department received a call regarding the incident at 12.43 pm before seven officers and personnel from the Banting Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) were deployed to the location of the incident with machinery. — Bernama
GEORGE TOWN: Kebakaran hutan yang berlaku Botanical Gardens, Jalan Kebun Bunga di sini sejak lewat petang semalam kini melibatkan kawasan seluas kira-kira lapan hektar.
Difahamkan, kebakaran itu merebak dengan pantas iaitu daripada lima hektar kepada lapan hektar dalam tempoh lima jam sahaja.
