FIREMEN TRAINED TO COMBAT TERRORISM

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) -- Fifty-five firemen have been trained to
combat terrorism in its myriad of forms, thanks to the South East Asia Region
Centre of Counter Terrorism.

They are capable of handling terrorist threats, be it chemical, nuclear,
biological or radioactive, said Fire and Rescue Department director-general
Hamzah Abu Bakar Tuesday.

He said the department had so far, trained 55 officers in these fields with
the cooperation of experts from Canada, via the centre of counter terrorism.

Meanwhile, he said the department was now receiving more rescue calls than
their normal fire assistance calls.

Last year, it received 50,849 calls of which 21,712 were for fire, 27,442
(rescue) and the rest (humanitarian assistance).

In view of the increase in rescue calls, the department was emphasing on
training its staff to handle such cases, said Hamzah.

He said the department had allocated RM15 million this year to carry out
various local and foreign courses for its personnel.

Last year, Hamzah added, the department organised 459 courses ranging from
fire fighting to sea rescue operations which benefited 10,000 personnel.

On fire-related losses last year, he said properties and goods worth about
RM1.6 billion went up in smoke.

On staff intake, the fire chief said 999 new personnel would be recruited
this year. (US$1=RM3.56)
-- BERNAMA