PUTRAJAYA: An increase in allowances for firefighters is being reviewed by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Its minister, Nga Kor Ming, said the review also involved the critical and time allowance for firefighters. He said improving firefighters' welfare had always been on the ministry's agenda.
"My vision is for our firefighters, our wira and wirawati merah to be on par with other uniformed forces," Nga said after officiating the ministry's Skuad Ihsan Madani flag-off.
In the Dewan Rakyat debate last month, Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong) urged the ministry to increase firefighters' allowance as the current allowance was not enough to meet the dangerous nature of their job.
She said the Fire and Rescue Department's initiative payment allowance also does not match their workload and occupational risks.
Young Syefura told the ministry to consider the suggestion so that it matched their duties and was on par with other security service members.
Her view was echoed by Datuk Suhaimi Nasir (BN-Libaran), who said that firefighters' allowance had not been increased for a long time.
He said the current allowance for intensive work of RM110 for 12 hours was no longer relevant and should be increased to match the present situation.