The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (Malay: Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM), Jawi: جابتن بومبا دان ڤڽلامت مليسيا), commonly known as Bomba, is a federal agency of Malaysia responsible for firefighting and technical rescue. Bomba is a Malay word derived from the Portuguese bombeiros which means 'firefighters'.
Firefighting services in Malaysia began in 1883 with the establishment of the Selangor fire and rescue volunteers led by H.F. Bellamy, with 15 active personnel. The Malayan Union Fire Services (MUS), based in Kuala Lumpur, was established after World War II, headed by Flight Lt. W.J. German.
The firefighting services became the responsibility of state governments after the Malaysia Federation Agreement. The services were then integrated as a federal-level department on 1 January 1976, reporting to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. The department received a new name on 15 May 1981: "The Malaysian Fire Services Department".
On 8 January 1997, the Malaysian Ministerial Cabinet agreed to change the coat of arms, flag, and name of the Malaysian Fire Services Department to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department. These were officially launched in a ceremony at the Genting Highlands Fire and Rescue Station in Pahang on 21 February 1997, by Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad.
The JBPM flag is divided into 2 sections: a red triangle with the department crest and the lower triangle, with 15 alternating golden yellow and blue stripes.
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Section 5 (1) & (2) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 1988 (Act 341) stipulates that the duties of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department are as follows:
JBPM may apart from its duties under subsection (1), perform any other duties entrusted to it by law or held by the minister to perform.
There are five Fire and Rescue Academy of Malaysia (FRAM) (Malay: Akademi Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia) campuses which includes:
FRAM offers certificate and diploma level courses in fire and rescue.
FRAM has a Band Unit that is attached to FRAM Central Region.
On 4 May 2014, the Malaysian Government re-established the Auxiliary Fire Service (Malay: Pasukan Bomba Bantuan) in conjunction with the International Firefighters' Day celebrations at Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur.[2] The re-establishment was officiated by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin. Historically, the Auxiliary Fire Service was first formed in 1940. Then, after World War II, they were absorbed into the regular fire services.
There are some differences between Auxiliaries and Volunteers. Auxiliary Firefighters (Malay: Pegawai Bomba Bantuan; PBB) are formally trained at FRAM, while the Volunteer Firefighters receive their training at state and district fire stations.[3] Auxiliary Firefighters are governed by the Fire Services Act 1988 and receive an allowance from the government. Volunteer Firefighters do not receive allowances from the government but are citizen volunteers serving as part of Volunteer Firefighting Teams based at Volunteer Fire Stations paid for by their local community. They are covered through insurance paid for by the Malaysian Government. Previously registered and governed by the Registrar of Societies, Volunteer Firefighters will now be registered and governed directly by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department after Parliament passed the Fire Services (Amendment) Act 2018.[4]
After the Sabah earthquake that happened on 5 June 2015 affected Ranau and Mount Kinabalu, a specialist Mountain Search and Rescue team (MOSAR) was formed out of the Kinabalu Mountain Guides of Sabah Parks on 23 June 2015.[5] In a ceremony at Ranau Fire Station, 20 Kinabalu Mountain Guides were appointed as Auxiliary Firefighters and designated as the founding members of MOSAR. The ceremony was officiated by the then Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.[6]
MOSAR takes its place among Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department's specialist rescue units, which includes the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) and the Multi Skill Team (MUST).
Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force (Malay: Pasukan Bomba dan Penyelamat Sukarela; BOMPENS) traces their history back to 1883. The modern Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force was formed in 1987 and protected under Section 62 (1) (CA) Fire and Rescue Services Act 1988. Each Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force has their own fire stations, fire trucks, and equipment, which are usually sponsored by local industry.
The primary role of the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force is to perform firefighting operations in their community. In case of fire emergencies in their community, the volunteers are the first there to control if not extinguish the fire.[7] Their secondary role is to be the link between JBPM and their local community. In addition, they are entrusted by JBPM to spread awareness regarding to fire safety.
The Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force train regularly in district fire stations so that they and their equipment are in good shape for fire emergencies.[8] The volunteers can be easily identified by their yellow Firefighting Operations Dress.
JBPM start using 'Very Dark Corn Flower Blue' for their official duty uniform since 1997.[9] Before that, JBPM personnel wore a Khaki-coloured working uniform.
The blue bush jacket uniform is worn by all JBPM ranks during official duties, while the tuck-in blue uniform version is worn during the parades.
This dress is devoted to carrying out special tasks, rescue operations, and other operations that do not involve firefighting. This dress can also be worn when doing the daily work at the fire station or in the official parade.
Both JBPM personnel and Auxiliary Firefighters are awarded with a red beret with a black lining behind the insignia once they finish their basic fire and rescue training at FRAM.
For Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force, headwear differs depending to the state. In Kedah, the volunteers wear a maroon beret with a red lining behind the JBPM insignia, whilst in Penang, they wear a red beret similar to the regular force but without the black lining. Firefighter Cadets wear a dark navy-blue beret instead.
This fire-retardant dress is worn during firefighting operations and exercises that involve fire. This dress can also be worn during the official parade if instructed.
There are a few colors of the firefighting operations dress. The color red (which replacing orange) is worn by regular firefighters, yellow is worn by volunteer firefighters and black is worn by JBPM officers (ranking from Assistant Fire Superintendent to Chief Fire Commissioner).
JBPM currently uses the Dräger HPS 7000 as their standard issued fire and rescue helmet. JBPM currently uses 3 colors to mark a firefighter's rank,
Used by all standard firefighting personnel.
Used by officers and superintendents.
Used by commissioners.
JBPM has chosen the Dräger HPS 3100 as their standard urban search and rescue helmet (Primarily used by STORM). The helmet is standardly issued to STORM but also USAR qualified firefighters from other specialist units including MUST and K9 unit (Obtained through the STORM Urban Search and Rescue training).
List of ranks Archived 15 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine
Pasukan Khas Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (English: JBPM Special Forces) is a term used by JBPM to its special trained firefighters.
To differentiate with regular firefighters, Special Force firefighters wear a unit patch on the right shoulder and use different styles of camouflage and operations uniform.
MUST Team, Smoke Jumpers (PASKUB), and STORM can be sent to overseas to help handling any disaster with STORM being the primary unit being sent.
Source:[10]
Formed on 29 October 1992 based on the recommendation made by the Royal Commission of Enquiry on the Bright Sparklers Fireworks disaster. Initially the team was known as Hazmat Team and in 2001 after the September 11 disaster the department decided to incorporate the CBRNe component to its name. This elite team are well trained to deal with both man made and toxic industrial disaster. They are part of training provider for Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and also the main rescue agency under the National Security Council Directive No.18 and 20in Malaysia. it was [11] Hazardous Material Unit Team or commonly known as "HAZMAT" is a JBPM's Special Force trusted to handle with five types of hazards which is:
Multi-Skill Team (MUST) is an elite airborne team of JBPM.[12] Formed on 11 September 1998, MUST is formed by combining all special trained firefighters into one team and supported by helicopters from JBPM Air Wing.[13] MUST units are usually deployed whenever a certain special unit is unavailable in a certain area or when extra assistance is requested by other special units. MUST primarily serve as helicopter-borne firefighters mainly tasked with rescue involving airborne rappelling insertion.
Although MUST is primarily an elite airborne unit, MUST can conduct support operations to assist other divisions (that are unavailable or requested) such as:
All MUST members are trained in helicopter-borne, emergency management in aircraft, jungle survival and sea-land navigation.
Elite JBPM Rescue Swimmer Unit is attached to MUST.
Rapid Intervention Motorcycle Team (RIM) was formed in 1999 to tackle problems of late arriving rescue caused by traffic jammed in the big city.[14] With superbikes equipped with basic Firefighting and rescue equipment, RIM team can handle small scale fire and Road and Traffic Accident (RTA) without having traffic problems.[15] During bigger scale of fire, RIM team will arrive early and assess the size and type of incident, building, and materials involve and victim if any. RIM team also will help control the traffic for the fire truck movement.
Pasukan Penyelamat Dalam Air (PPDA); also known as Water Rescue Unit, their role is to deal with incidents and emergencies that occur in the water. This unit consists of qualified officers and men trained at local and overseas diving training centres. All members of the JBPM Water Rescue Unit are certified divers from the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI).[16]
Pasukan Khas Udara Bomba (PASKUB) (English: Bomba Special Air Services) is a command for elite Smokejumper with support of helicopters from JBPM Air Wing.
Smoke Jumpers Unit (Malay: Unit Payung Terjun Bomba) is an elite unit of JBPM and trained in parachute insertion (static line and freefall), helicopter-borne operation and jungle survival.[17] The formation of elite Smoke Jumper began in 2000 after JBPM sent five firefighters to enter the Basic Static Line Parachuting Course held at Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Sempang Air Force Base, Sungai Besi as the pioneer team Smoke Jumpers.[18] The course was conducted by RMAF Special Operations Force, PASKAU until 2007 when JBPM established their own Static Ramp Air Course.[19] Among the task of Smoke Jumper is:
Smoke Jumper enjoys good relations with Malaysian Armed Force Special Operations Forces as they always train with RMAF PASKAU, Malaysian Army Grup Gerak Khas from PULPAK and Royal Malaysian Police VAT 69 Commando.[20] PASKUB members are selected from various units including STORM, MUST and EMRS.
Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) Team was formed in 2006 with cooperation from the Malaysian Ministry of Health and Malaysian Association of Traumatology and Emergency Medicine (MASTEM). EMRS was established as a Special Force Paramedic to rescue and conduct medical care to other JBPM Special Forces members if any incident occurs to them.[21] However, EMRS can rescue and conduct medical care to civilians if there are no other ambulance or paramedics from the Malaysian Ministry of Health or State Health Department around.
Typically, EMRS team is assigned to HAZMAT and Water Rescue unit and EMRS vehicle will go out in pairs with the other JBPM Special Forces vehicle to operations. EMRS members are also usually tasked as paramedics during JBPM Special Forces and Special Operations Forces Selections.[22]
Some EMRS members are trained in HAZMAT and Scuba diving.
K9 Management Unit uses trained dogs to operate in the Search and Rescue (SAR) operations and investigation. The K9 Unit can be attached to the regular firefighting unit or JBPM Special Forces thus all dog handlers together with their dogs are trained for a variety of situations, including the urban and jungle operations.
A support team task to support JBPM Special Forces with water transportation during operations involving of lake, river and sea. The boat crews are trained in water survival and able to perform water rescue to JBPM personnel and civilians if necessary.
Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) unit is a part of the Malaysian Rapid Deployment Force (Malay: Pasukan Aturgerak Cepat; PAC) together with 10 Parachute Brigade (10 PARA) but with different task and role. Formed in March 2011, STORM winning[23] is a Search and Rescue (SAR) experts and on standby for 24/7 at JBPM Airbases and State Branch Headquarters. Storm unit mainly task with SAR operations involving:[24][25]
Dubbed as Komando Bomba (English: Bomba Commando), to be selected as STORM members, firefighters need to pass the rigorous selection course which is on par as Basic Commando Course.[26] Eligibility requirements including Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) standards of physical fitness that is also used by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) before trainee can even enter the Basic Storm Course.[27] Once pass the Storm Survival Course, the graduate will receive a tactical knife, the same sort used by RMAF PASKAU, STORM patch and permission to wear STORM Red Helmet and STORM Version Camouflage Dress.[28]
Many of STORM members are drawn from Water Rescue Unit (PPDA), EMRS, HAZMAT Unit and MUST.[29]
For big operations, STORM work together with other federal SAR Special Force; Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) which under administration of the National Security Council.[30] They are usually supported by the jungle experts, the aboriginal police unit; Senoi Praaq, Royal Malaysian Police's (RMP) VAT 69 Commando and General Operations Force, Malaysian Armed Force special operations force and Malaysian Civil Defence Force.
Medals Of Honor
Service Bar
•Dato' Sri Ts. Mohammad Hamdan Bin Wahid - Former Director of the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia from 2018 to 2023, the first Sarawakian appointed as director and a pioneer of the Hazmat Team.[1][2]
•Mohd Adib - Firefighter who was killed by Indian rioters in Puchong, Selangor in 2018
•Syafiq Farhain - Singer and Firefighter
