KANGAR: The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has dismissed 74 firefighters for disciplinary offences, including involvement with triad and militant groups, over the past five years.
Its director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said that these actions were necessary to uphold staff integrity and prevent misconduct within the service.
"As of last month, our Integrity Unit recorded 81 integrity-related complaints, an increase of only one case compared to 80 in the same period last year," he said at the launch of the 2024 JBPM Integrity Day celebration today.
From 2018 to last month, 74 firefighters were dismissed for various disciplinary offences, including 35 for drug-related issues, 33 for being absent without leave, four for involvement with secret societies — including the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militant group — and one each for corruption and sexual misconduct.
Hisham said that most of those dismissed had faced court trials and were found guilty.
"We were shocked to learn that some of our staff were involved not just in secret societies but also in militant groups. Once convicted, dismissal was necessary to maintain the department's integrity," he said.
He said that the effectiveness of awareness efforts and the e-Complaint Integrity system helped in fostering trust in the handling of complaints and allowing integrity issues to be escalated without prejudice.
"The department will not compromise on disciplinary offences like drug abuse, and appropriate actions will be taken against offenders," he added.