Some fires deliberate so can profit from PPR?
Published on: Saturday, November 29, 2014
TAWAU: The Fire and Rescue Department will be conducting a detailed study to ascertain whether fire incidences here were deliberate doings of people wanting to profit from it.This follows allegations by certain quarters that this was the case in fire incidents at certain settlements so as to pave the way for the People's Housing Project (PPR).The department's chief, Rudy Fredzex, said such issue needs the expertise of experts from the department's headquarters in Kota Kinabalu.
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He said this when commenting on an incident where personnel from the Tawau department were prevented and provoked by residents of Kg Ice Box who threw rocks at them when they were trying to extinguish the fire that destroyed 20 houses at Lorong Haji Sundu last Monday.He said he was appalled by the residents' action because it caused huge losses to many people.He said action could be taken against those who deliberately prevented the department from carrying out its responsibility.Under Section 51 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 1988, anyone who intentionally berates, attacks, hinders, interferes, prevents or disturbs any officers of the Fire and Rescue Department or volunteer firemen from carrying out their duties could have action taken against them under Section 58.
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Section 58 provides for penalty of up to RM5,000 or jail of up to three years, or both.Rudy said there were seven high profile fire cases in the district that occurred so far this year because it involved human lives and huge property loss.
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The cases were squatter settlements at Jalan Kuhara (April 1), chemical fertiliser shop at Fajar Kompleks (March 8), Supermarket Century at Sabindo (June 29), Kg Pasir Putih (Aug 16), Tanjung Batu Keramat Takala (Sept 8), a row of old shops at Jalan Dunlop (Sept 29-30) and Lorong Haji Sundu (Nov 24).Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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