A firefighter with a deep passion for cycling took on a solo ride expedition of over 2,020km to raise funds for "Tabung Kebajikan Anggota Bomba".

Mohd Fakhrul Munir Mohd Isa, 38, said so far, he had stopped by at more than 100 fire stations throughout Peninsular Malaysia during the expedition which started on Aug 6 and about RM12,000 in contributions has been collected for the fund.

He said the idea of raising funds through the solo bicycle ride came up following the incident which befell six fire and rescue personnel who drowned during a search and rescue mission in Puchong in 2018 and the death of Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim in a riot at a temple last year.

"The incidents have prompted me to do something that can help the victims' next-of-kin who are in need.

"So I decided to use every ounce of my energy to go to fire stations in the Peninsula by cycling to collect donations from fire personnel and officers," he told reporters at the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Headquarters here today.

Mohd Fakhrul Munir who is also a trainer at the Central Region Malaysia Fire and Rescue Academy said the contributions would be handed over to Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to be channelled to firefighters or their next-of-kin in need.

He said apart from collecting donations, the solo cycling mission was also done in conjunction with the 63rd National Day celebration this year.

"The distance of 2,020 km was set because of the year 2020," he said.

Earlier, Mohd Fakhrul Munir who was cycling from the Kapar Fire and Rescue Station was greeted on arrival at the state Fire and Rescue Department headquarters by Selangor Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

At the event, Amirudin also announced that the state government has donated RM10,000 to the fund to help those in need.

-- BERNAMA