TAWAU: More women should join the Community Fire Programme and Household Risk Management Readiness (SURI), Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Deputy Minister Datuk Andi Suryady Bandy said.
He said this would enhance their ability to manage kitchen emergencies. The SURI initiative plays a crucial role in assisting the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department in preventing fires from escalating into major incidents.
“SURI provides an opportunity for women to learn proper emergency response techniques, particularly in dealing with kitchen fires often caused by negligence, such as forgetting to turn off the gas stove.
“With these skills, they can prevent fires from escalating,” said Andi, who is also Kalabakan MP, when officiating the Fire Safety Ops Campaign here, recently.
He noted that Community Fire Unit and SURI consist of individuals who have undergone specialised training to ensure swift action can be taken before firefighters arrive.
Both initiatives provide training and awareness to communities on essential first-response measures in the event of a fire, he said.
He added that the government hoped to establish more Community Fire teams, particularly in rural villages that frequently experience fire incidents, enabling prompt action to be taken before flames spread.
Meanwhile, Sabah JBPM Director, PKPjB Jainal @ Zainal Madasin, said the campaign aims to improve public awareness on fire safety measures, including systematic evacuation procedures and the proper use of fire extinguishers.
“This campaign has been running since the beginning of Ramadan on March 3 and includes various activities, such as fire safety briefings for Community Fire programme members and SURI participants at high-traffic locations ahead of the festive season,” he stated.
Jainal added that the training sessions are conducted by certified JBPM instructors and involve 20 housewives from Kampung Tanjung Batu.
