MARANG: The Fire and Rescue Department Academy's Aquatics Rescue Centre, estimated to cost RM46 million, is expected to be completed by next year.
Director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said the centre would train personnel on rescues in water and on the highway.
Hamdan said the department was also focusing on highway rescues involving hazardous substances.
"We are also developing a training facility to simulate buildings on fire.
"All the projects were approved through the second Rolling Plan under the 12th Malaysia Plan at a cost of RM46 million," he said when met at the Fire and Rescue Services Department Eastern Territories Academy in Wakaf Tapai here today.
Hamdan said the project would be completed by next year and would be bigger than the existing training centre at the academy.
He said the department was seeking recruits to beef up its 14,500 personnel across the country.
"What remains vacant are the 600 vacancies for grade KB19 and we are having intakes in stages to fill the vacancies.
"We need the manpower to man new and existing stations," he said.