KUALA LUMPUR: A Sessions Court in Kelantan has cleared a Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) officer of negligence after a wasp nest removal operation took a disastrous turn, leading to a house fire.

Judge Effandi Nazila Abdullah made the ruling after satisfied that Zuliar Latiff (plaintiff) failed to prove his case on the balance of probabilities against Lance Corporal (PA) Mohd Al Faizal Mohd Karim and the government (defendants).

According to the court document, the incident began when Zuliar discovered a large wasp nest inside a wardrobe in his family home near Pasir Mas, Kelantan on Sept 15 2021.

With his elderly mother and younger sibling stranded in Perak due to Covid-19 movement control order, the 50-year-old man called emergency services for help.

APM officers, led by Mohd Al Faizal who responded to the call, assessed the situation and decided to use aerosol insecticide to eliminate the wasps and their nest.

However, despite the treatment, many wasps remained active and attacked the defendant when he attempted to remove a piece of clothing from the wardrobe.

In a desperate attempt to protect himself, Mohd Al Faizal, who had served in APM for seven years and had vast experience in exterminating wasp nests, lit a lighter to ward off the insects, but the flame ignited fabric stuck to the window frame.

The fire quickly spread, and despite efforts to put it out, the house was engulfed in flame.

The plaintiff claimed that the officer acted recklessly and should be held responsible for the destruction of his home.

Meanwhile, the defendants argued that they had taken all reasonable and precautionary measures at all times while carrying out the operation to destroy the wasp nest, in accordance with the guidelines set by APM.

Effendy Nazila in his ground of judgment said the court is of the opinion that Mohd Al Faizal had exercised reasonable caution throughout the operation to destroy the wasp nest.

"The first defendant was fully equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) and conducted the operation in accordance with APM guidelines.

"The Fire and Rescue Department's commander who extinguished the fire, testified that their investigation revealed the fire was caused by an accident," he said.

The court said there was no evidence indicating that Mohd Al Faizal was negligent during the operation.

The judge added the fire could have occurred even in the absence of negligence by Mohd Al Faizal and that he did not have full control over the plaintiff's house.

THE 73rd Malaysia Civil Defence Day was celebrated yesterday, with the theme “Volunteers and Civil Defence: The Core of National Well-being”.

This theme strongly reflects the dedicated work of the Civil Defence Force of Malaysia, who, alongside other Malaysian uniformed personnel, serve selflessly and without complaint.

In light of this, I urge everyone to recognise and appreciate the sacrifices and dedication of not only the Civil Defence Force but also all uniformed personnel who have tirelessly given their all. However, it saddens me to see negative comments and jabs on social media ridiculing the roles and responsibilities of the force.

Please show respect for the uniform and what it represents, as it ultimately reflects on our sovereignty.

It is unfortunate that some individuals remain unaware of the existence of the Civil Defence Force, despite it having been in operation for 70 years.

The Malaysian Civil Defence Force, among other duties, handles disaster management, provides humanitarian services, educates the civilian population on civil defence and trains them for civil defence purposes. They also have a specialised disaster and emergency response team, the Spider team, which specialises in search and rescue operations.

I call on everyone to respect, honour and appreciate the sacrifices of the Civil Defence Force and uniformed personnel in the name of the Jalur Gemilang.

Yeap Ming Liong
Associate Captain

Malaysian Civil Defence Force

JOHOR BAHRU: Sambutan Aidilfitri tahun ini paling syahdu dan pilu bagi mangsa banjir di Johor apabila mengenang kesan kerosakan dialami masing-masing, selain timbunan kelengkapan rosak dan dipenuhi lumpur.

Meskipun banjir surut sejak Jumaat lagi, kerja pembersihan belum selesai sehingga hari ini dengan penduduk tidak menolak kemungkinan ia akan berlarutan sehingga Syawal.

Tinjauan BH di Kampung Seri Jaya, Taman Perling di sini mendapati sampah dan sisa kerosakan akibat banjir dikumpulkan penduduk di tepi jalan untuk memudahkan kutipan dilakukan dengan bantuan pihak berkuasa tempatan.

Malah sepanjang laluan di bahu jalan dari Kampung Jaya Baru menuju Kampung Seri Sedang Baru dipenuhi sisa sampah barangan penduduk yang rosak dan musnah akibat banjir.

Seorang penduduk, Rubiah surat, 74, menyifatkan banjir melanda paling buruk sejak menetap di kawasan itu 50 tahun lalu sehinggakan dia sendiri tidak mampu lagi bersedih melihat keadaan rumah, pakaian, televisyen, mesin basuh, peti air yang semuanya dipenuhi lumpur.

"Tiada satu pun pakaian kering untuk kami, semuanya basah terkena banjir. Baju raya lengkap yang anak belikan untuk makcik dan pakcik juga basah dan berbau busuk.

"Makcik keluar rumah ketika banjir Khamis lalu, sehelai sepinggang. Beg dijunjung hanya ada dokumen," katanya.

Ditanya mengenai kerosakan, Rubiah berkata kediaman serta barangan termasuk makanan seperti beras dan ayam yang dibelanjakan sehari sebelum banjir melanda rosak dan busuk.

Bukan itu sahaja, katanya kuih raya yang dibeli juga digenangi air dan rosak semuanya.

"Sedih lihat makanan rosak, bawang, pinggan mangkuk plastik habis berbau busuk, terpaksa buang... kalau gunakan semua bimbang jadi penyakit.

"Raya kali ini tetap raya tetapi memang tiada apa, ziarah kubur dan duduk di rumah. Juadah raya pun belum fikir macam mana nak masak sebab dapur dan tong beras pun hanyut.

"Tangan dan kaki tak tahu nak gambarkan sakit dan lenguh macam mana sebab berkemas tak berhenti. Anak-anak datang hujung minggu lalu, kerja berat basuh rumah semua mereka buat, makcik nak selesaikan basuhan kain baju yang masih elok boleh basuh, makcik basuh dan jemur.

"Nak hantar dobi semua penuh sampai sebelum sahur pun ada orang cuci baju," katanya.

Nasib sama menimpa suri rumah, Jamaliah Yusuf, 45, yang menanggung kerugian apabila biskut raya dijual secara tempahan hanyut dan rosak semuanya, manakala permaidani dan pakaian raya yang dibeli basah dan berbau busuk.

"Sehari sebelum banjir, nasib baik dapat hantar sebahagian besar kuih tempahan pelanggan. Ada sebahagian lagi rosak dan dibuang.

"Baju raya memang sediakan awal untuk sekeluarga, tetapi semuanya sudah basah. Apa yang boleh guna kita guna semula. Raya ala kadar saja tahun ini penuh dugaan buat kami," katanya.

JOHOR BAHRU: Struktur tiang jambatan di Kampung Tenang, Ulu Tiram di sini patah, manakala jambatan Batu 20 Mukim Sungai Tiram yang berjarak kira-kira tujuh kilometer dari kampung berkenaan pula runtuh berikutan hujan lebat berterusan dan arus deras baru-baru ini.

Ketua Kampung Ulu Tiram Mukim Plentong, Shazrul Idham Abd Aziz, berkata jambatan Kampung Tenang iaitu satu-satunya laluan utama bagi 1,040 penduduk daripada 260 keluarga itu ditutup dan hanya boleh dilalui motosikal selepas dua tiangnya patah pada Jumaat lepas.

Beliau berkata kejadian itu telah dimaklumkan kepada Pegawai Daerah Johor Bahru Mohd Masni Wakiman dan Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS) serta dibangkitkan dalam mesyuarat Pusat Kawalan Operasi Bencana (PKOB).

"Jurutera JPS telah membuat pemantauan dan setakat ini kita sedang menunggu maklumat lanjut berkaitan tindakan susulan sama ada ia akan dibaik pulih atau diganti baharu.

"Sehingga kini penduduk hanya boleh keluar masuk kampung itu menggunakan motosikal. Jadi saya harap kerja pembaikan boleh dipercepatkan memandangkan Aidilfitri semakin hampir. Bagaimanapun kita maklum untuk proses membaik pulih ia akan mengambil masa," katanya kepada Bernama.

Shazrul Idham berkata setakat ini tiada lokasi yang dilihat bersesuaian untuk pembinaan jambatan sementara dan jalan alternatif sedang dikenal pasti dengan kerjasama pemilik tanah di kawasan berhampiran.

Sementara itu, Ketua Kampung Felda Sungai Tiram Mohamad Misri berkata jambatan Batu 20 runtuh pada Ahad, sekali gus menyebabkan lebih daripada 1,000 penduduk Kampung Pasir, Kampung Dagang, Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tiram dan Kampung Seri Perdana perlu menggunakan jalan alternatif melalui Kampung Sungai Redan.

"Setakat ini, hanya itu jalan alternatif yang boleh dilalui, walaupun jalan itu agak jauh dan ada sebahagiannya tidak berturap," katanya.

Beliau berkata Pegawai Daerah Johor Bahru bersama Panglima Tentera Darat Jen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan dan delegasi serta Jabatan Kerja Raya telah melawat lokasi kejadian, berkaitan perancangan membina jambatan sementara.

"Kesemua pihak berbincang dan bersetuju membina jambatan sementara sebelum perayaan Aidilfitri. Kerajaan negeri akan membina jambatan kekal selepas itu," katanya sambil berharap usaha itu berjalan lancar. – BERNAMA