Jumaat, 15 April 2011

Hannah Yeoh

Hannah Yeoh


Warming up to fire safety measures

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:23 AM PDT



NST - 12 April 2011

SUBANG JAYA: Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh has called on the Subang Jaya Municipal Council and the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Department to discuss the possibility of encouraging new housing developments to install fire prevention equipment in homes in the future. 

Speaking after launching Rakan Bomba III on Sunday, Yeoh said it was important that a consensus be reached between both parties as there are no guidelines to make it compulsory to have such fire fighting equipment in residential homes.

"Currently, there are no guidelines in the council and they are only relying on the representatives from the department that sits in the One-Stop Centre meetings to endorse a development or otherwise. The council and department do not regulations which make it mandatory for residential homes to have fire fighting equipment like an extinguisher.

"The department does not have authority either, so they can't go into houses to carry out checks. I will get both parties to discuss this matter further," she said. 

Yeoh said she had written to the Housing and Local Government Ministry few months ago requesting for a mobile fire brigade to be stationed in the USJ area.

She said it was vital that a mobile fire brigade to be allocated to the area as the nearest fire and rescue department is in SS17.

With the vehicle and the fire fighting equipment, Yeoh said the mobile fire brigade could respond to a distress call quicker and work on putting out the fire first while waiting for assistance from the Fire and Rescue department.

"There is an industrial area in USJ and when there is a fire in a factory, the damage can be substantial and a mobile fire brigade can help to alleviate the situation.

"I am still waiting for a favourable reply from the ministry," she said, adding that the vehicle could be stationed in the Subang Jaya Municipal Council headquarters in USJ 5.

The Petaling Fire and Rescue Department head Ahmad Fisal Ahyat, who was present at the launch, was agreeable to an earlier suggestion of setting up of a voluntary fire brigade in Subang Jaya, adding that it could help save lives and property.

"We will be ready to render any help to the volunteers," he said.

Yeoh, who also supported the suggestion of a volunteer fire brigade, said Subang Jaya residents were ready to take on the challenge of starting the voluntary fire brigade.

"This is an avenue for our young adults to contribute to the community. It is a healthy activity which will benefit the volunteers as well. I will help to make it a reality," she said.

The SS17 Fire and Rescue Department head Mohd Khairi Daud, who was transferred from Alor Gajah, Malacca, said he looked forward to engaging the community in fire fighting and prevention initiatives.

"I look forward to working closely with residents' associations in this constituency, to teach them to use fire extinguishers in emergencies, and to identify potential fire hazards."

He said it was important for residents to report on faulty fire hydrants without delay for the department to fix the faulty on the same day.

Rakan Bomba III, which started in 2009, is an awareness initiative to bring the Subang Jaya folk and the department closer.

Highlight for the children - learning to use the fire extinguisher!

The Rakan Bomba III held at the Subang Ria Park featured a water rescue at the lake, a demonstration by the department's K9 unit which uses dogs and their handlers in search and rescue operations as well as fire fighting techniques.

It attracted more than 100 participants and visitors.

All photos courtesy of SJ Echo

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