BINTULU (Oct 29): Fire safety awareness and regular training must become a way of life in rural communities, particularly in longhouses and villages, to prevent tragedies and minimise losses, said Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

Caretaker State Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development said fire safety should not be limited to distributing fire extinguishers or responding to emergencies, but must involve continuous education and preparedness among residents.

He said communities needed to understand potential fire hazards, know how to use firefighting equipment and remain prepared to respond when emergencies occurred.

Dr Rundi said this during the launch of the MLNG HSE community programme on Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards (Cimah) ITP 2026 here on Wednesday.

He stressed that fire safety was a shared responsibility involving homeowners, community leaders, residents and relevant agencies.

Dr Rundi noted that fire extinguishers could be ineffective if residents did not know how to operate them or if the equipment had been left unused for years without proper inspection.

“I have seen many fire extinguishers in longhouses that have been hanging there for 20 to 30 years,” he said, underscoring the importance of ensuring that equipment was maintained and users were properly trained.

Dr Rundi also called for community firefighting teams and volunteer groups to receive regular refresher training, with the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) playing a vital role in strengthening their capabilities.

Dr Rundi said the consequences of a longhouse fire could be devastating, with residents potentially losing their homes and possessions within a short time.

Although assistance might be available to rebuild damaged homes, replacing the materials and belongings lost in a fire could be difficult and costly.

He emphasised that the safety practices adopted by industrial players, including companies operating in Bintulu, should also be applied in villages, longhouses and homes throughout Sarawak.

“Make it your culture. We have to take care of each other,” he said, urging residents to remain alert to hazards that could endanger their families and neighbours.

Dr Rundi added that community leaders should ensure residents understood emergency procedures, including evacuation routes and how to contact the relevant authorities during a fire.

He said safety awareness should be reinforced continuously, rather than treated as a one-off programme, to protect lives and safeguard the well-being of future generations.

Raub: Hujan lebat selama beberapa jam menyebabkan banjir kilat di dua kawasan di daerah ini petang tadi yang turut menenggelamkan jalan utama.

Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Daerah Raub memaklumkan banjir dilaporkan berlaku pada jam 4.30 petang di Kampung Melayu Sempalit dan sepanjang Jalan Tras.

"Sungai Sempalit melimpah sehingga menenggelami kawasan kampung berhampiran, manakala sistem perparitan di sepanjang Jalan Tras tidak mampu menampung jumlah air yang banyak.

"Tiada pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) dibuka. Air banjir surut sepenuhnya kira-kira jam 6.50 petang selepas hujan berhenti," menurut kenyataan itu.

Sekretariat berkenaan berkata, anggota Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia (APM) dan polis dikerahkan ke kedua-dua lokasi bagi membantu penduduk serta memantau paras air.

Terdahulu, gambar dan video kejadian banjir itu dikongsikan di media sosial menunjukkan air keruh menenggelami satu laluan di Jalan Tras yang hanya kenderaan besar dapat melaluinya.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tiada kawasan yang mencatatkan kualiti udara tidak sihat di seluruh negara pagi ini.

Berdasarkan data terkini, sebanyak 43 stesen pemantau merekodkan bacaan Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) sederhana setakat jam 7.50 pagi ini.

Menurut data terkini Sistem Pengurusan Indeks Pencemar Udara Malaysia (APIMS), sembilan negeri dan dua Wilayah Persekutuan merekodkan bacaan sederhana.

Ia membabitkan Johor, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Sabah, Melaka, Selangor, Perak , Pulau Pinang, Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya.

Sementara itu, 25 stesen lain merekodkan bacaan IPU pada tahap baik.

Bacaan IPU sifar hingga 50 dikategorikan sebagai baik, 51 hingga 100 sederhana, 101 hingga 200 tidak sihat, 201 hingga 300 sangat tidak sihat, manakala bacaan melebihi 300 dikategorikan sebagai berbahaya.

Sementara itu, Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (METMalaysia) mengeluarkan amaran ribut petir, hujan lebat dan angin kencang yang dijangka berlaku di Langkawi, Kedah dan Pulau Tioman, Pahang sehingga jam 9 pagi ini.

Cuaca sama turut dijangka berlaku di Sarawak membabitkan Kuching dan Samarahan (Samarahan, Asajaya dan Sebuyau).

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 28 — Johor Corporation (JCorp) yesterday refuted claims associating the group with Indonesian plantation companies linked to forest and land fires, following a recent report published by Wahana Linkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI).

In a statement yesterday, JCorp clarified that it does not own or operate any plantation outside Malaysia.

JCorp further explained that through its wholly owned subsidiary, Kulim (Malaysia) Berhad (Kulim), it divested its interests in several Indonesian companies in 2007.

The disposals involved PT Graha Cakra Mulia, PT Sumber Mahardhika Graha, PT Salonok Ladang Mas, and PT Harapan Hibrida Kalbar on August 8, 2007, followed by PT Trimurti Sumbertama on September 26, 2007, with all disposals recorded in JCorp’s 2008 Annual Report.

JCorp added that on July 6, 2023, Kulim further divested its entire equity interest in two other entities, PT Tempirai Palm Resources and PT Rambang Agro Jaya to PT Bakung Starch Lestari.

JCorp reiterated that it has no ownership interest or operational involvement in these companies.

Consequently, the group noted that the continued publication and circulation of these unfounded claims, create a false impression that JCorp owns, controls or operates the companies involved, associating it with the alleged incidents.

“As a state-owned institution, these unwarranted insinuations cause serious reputational harm to JCorp and the Johor State Government,” the statement said.

JCorp’s flagship companies; KPJ Healthcare Berhad, JLand Group Sdn Bhd, Johor Plantations Group Berhad, QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd and Johor Capital Group Sdn Bhd, spearhead the Group’s interests across five core sectors namely Wellness & Healthcare, Real Estate & Infrastructure, Agribusiness, Food & Restaurant, and Patient Capital.

Recently the analysis by Indonesian environmental non-governmental organisation, WALHI claims that 21 companies linked to Malaysian business entities were involved in land and forest fires in Indonesia between January and September 2026.

The details were highlighted in a mapping report titled “Who Are Behind the Fires?” published by the organisation’s National Executive. — Bernama