Action against 12 fire and rescue department staff

The Negeri Sembilan Fire and Rescue department has taken action against an officer and 11 personnel for breaching discipline, last year. State director Saadon Moktar said the officer who did not report for duty, 14 days, was terminated and his whereabouts could not be traced. "The 11 personnel had their yearly increment withheld and issued a warning," he told reporters during the department's annual parade held at its headquarters here today. Saadon who presented appreciation certificates to members of the media, fire and rescue volunteers and retiring officers also handed two fire trucks to the Kampung Pelegong, Labu and Kampung Batu 3, Mambau fire and rescue volunteer teams. Saadon said the department would not hesitate to take action against officers and personnel who breached discipline while on duty. He said the state would get a new fire station in Gemencheh, Tampin by 2014 in addition to the 15 fire stations currently in service throughout the state, plus the headquarters and three zone offices. Last year the state recorded 1,409 fires involving a loss of RM23.5 million, while RM208.4 million worth of property was salvaged, he said.