
16 UK-bred dogs to join JBPM K9 unit by November
Each dog costs around RM150,000, adding that five will be deployed to Sabah, two to Sarawak and the remainder to the department's K9 unit base at Jalan Klang Lama in Kuala Lumpur.
05 Jun 2025 08:32pm
A total of 16 dogs from the UK to be received by the Fire and Rescue Department's K9 Unit are expected to begin duties in November. - BERNAMA FILE PIX
KOTA BHARU - A total of 16 dogs from the United Kingdom (UK) to be received by the Fire and Rescue Department's (JBPM) K9 Unit are expected to begin duties in November.
JBPM director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said each dog costs around RM150,000, adding that five will be deployed to Sabah, two to Sarawak and the remainder to the department's K9 unit base at Jalan Klang Lama in Kuala Lumpur.
"We expect all the dogs to arrive in Malaysia by October, before commencing duties in November after undergoing several processes and training.
"For the selection process, three officers from JBPM, the Veterinary Department, and the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) will be sent to the UK. Upon arrival in Malaysia, the dogs will undergo a familiarisation process with their new handlers,' he said.
He was speaking to reporters after officiating the 2025 Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption forum here today, also attended by Kelantan JBPM director Farhan Sufyan Borhan.
It had been reported that the JBPM K9 Unit will receive 16 new dogs from the UK, valued at RM2.4 million, this year to replace approximately half of the 34 K9 dogs that have reached 10 to 12 years of age, equivalent to 60 years in human age. - BERNAMA
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Big plans to expand sun bear conservation centre, but funding, manpower remain challenges, says CEO
KOTA KINABALU: There are big plans to see the expansion of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) which currently houses 42 rescued sun bears, but funding and manpower continues to be their biggest challenge. BSBCC founder and chief executive officer Dr Wong Siew Te said that since its inception in 2008, the centre had come from a small sanctuary depending on public funding, government assistance to sales of tickets and souvenirs to sustain operations. Among their biggest supporters were the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, he said, adding that the ministry even helped them raise funds for the Centre to get off the ground in 2008, and gave them a grant for operational costs in 2013. On his future plans, he envisions a third observation platform, an interpretation centre and new office building, and a captive breeding enclosure. 'I hope the ministry will continue to support our work in the future,' Wong said, adding that for the BSBCC, these construction plans need financing. Separately, they also need to raise RM1mil to build the Field Office and staff house for the Tabin Sun Bear Project, he stated. According to him, all the sun bears at the BSBCC had been rescued from illegal pet keeping after their mothers were brutally killed by poachers. Over the past 17 years, the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) had rescued 70 sun bear orphans and sent them to the conservation centre, Wong disclosed. Sun bears are a Class 1 Protected Species under the state's Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. Other than the ministry, the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), an agency under the ministry, has also assisted BSBCC in many ways to promote the Centre to local and international tourism markets as well. Earlier, State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said the ministry has nurtured the growth and development of BSBCC since its inception in 2008. She said BSBCC, the only one of its kind in the world for protection of this endangered species, is a partnership project with the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), an agency under the ministry, and Sabah Forestry Department. "Last year, we (allocated RM228,420 for the construction of Phase 1 of the Entrance Foyer, which has since been completed. 'This year saw an additional allocation of RM250,000 for construction of Phase 2 of the Entrance Foyer. Work is expected to start this year," Liew said. She noted that this 17-year-old tourist attraction, which is home to 42 rescued sun bears, draws local and international visitors like a magnet. "I was informed by Wong that the Centre received 79,362 visitors in 2024, with an average of 6,613 visitors per month. 'That year, international visitors from 115 countries visited, with the top three coming from United Kingdom, Australia and Italy,' Liew said. She said the peak season is from July to October, generating the most number of visitors with more Malaysian visitors during the school holidays. She said educationists, researchers, school children and teachers, wildlife conservationists, animal lovers, and the like make up the composition of visitors and tourists, the majority being nature lovers and nature-based tourists. 'Many may not be aware that the BSBCC is also the main implementing agency for the 10-year State Sun Bear Action Plan,' Liew said. According to Wong, the main attraction to visitors at BSBCC is watching the sun bears' natural behaviour in their natural habitat, the rainforest. He said visitors can sometimes see the bears climbing and sleeping high on the trees while random feedings enable the visitors to see them eating as well. "We try our best to take good care of the bears and rehabilitate them. Thirteen rescued sun bears were successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild so far,' he said. 'In addition, the latest two rescued sun bear cubs have been sent to Tabin Wildlife Reserve to undergo the 'soft-release' programme,' Wong said.


Sinar Daily
8 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
16 UK-bred dogs to join JBPM K9 unit by November
Each dog costs around RM150,000, adding that five will be deployed to Sabah, two to Sarawak and the remainder to the department's K9 unit base at Jalan Klang Lama in Kuala Lumpur. 05 Jun 2025 08:32pm A total of 16 dogs from the UK to be received by the Fire and Rescue Department's K9 Unit are expected to begin duties in November. - BERNAMA FILE PIX KOTA BHARU - A total of 16 dogs from the United Kingdom (UK) to be received by the Fire and Rescue Department's (JBPM) K9 Unit are expected to begin duties in November. JBPM director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said each dog costs around RM150,000, adding that five will be deployed to Sabah, two to Sarawak and the remainder to the department's K9 unit base at Jalan Klang Lama in Kuala Lumpur. "We expect all the dogs to arrive in Malaysia by October, before commencing duties in November after undergoing several processes and training. "For the selection process, three officers from JBPM, the Veterinary Department, and the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) will be sent to the UK. Upon arrival in Malaysia, the dogs will undergo a familiarisation process with their new handlers,' he said. He was speaking to reporters after officiating the 2025 Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption forum here today, also attended by Kelantan JBPM director Farhan Sufyan Borhan. It had been reported that the JBPM K9 Unit will receive 16 new dogs from the UK, valued at RM2.4 million, this year to replace approximately half of the 34 K9 dogs that have reached 10 to 12 years of age, equivalent to 60 years in human age. - BERNAMA

Sinar Daily
8 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Waste fires: Silent threat pushes JBPM to the limit
Such fires often smoulder underneath piles of tyres and discarded plastics, producing thick smoke that remains a persistent threat to emergency responders and nearby residents. 02 Jun 2025 12:14pm Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department personnel brief media practitioners on emergency aid training during the launch of the Kelantan Media Community Firefighters 2025 programme at the Pengkalan Kubor Fire and Rescue Station. - Photo by Bernama KOTA BHARU - Waste fires should not be viewed as ordinary fire incidents as they pose health hazards and can even cost lives, making fire suppression efforts particularly demanding for the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM). Such fires often smoulder underneath piles of tyres and discarded plastics, producing thick smoke that remains a persistent threat to emergency responders and nearby residents. When toxic waste is involved, the dangers multiply as the resulting smoke can cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting and long-term health effects. Kelantan JBPM director Farhan Sufyan Borhan described waste fires as a systemic issue involving various types of waste, each managed by different agencies, such as the Department of Environment, Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation and local authorities. "The four main categories are sewage, solid waste (domestic and scheduled waste), radioactive waste and chemical waste. JBPM steps in when a fire breaks out and lives are at risk, but before and after that, other agencies must play their role," he said. Kelantan JBPM director Farhan Sufyan Borhan - Photo by Bernama Under the National Security Council Directive No. 20, JBPM is the lead agency for handling disasters involving chemical, radiological, nuclear, and hazardous materials, while AELB provides technical expertise for radiological and nuclear emergencies. Farhan Sufyan said that according to Kelantan JBPM statistics, 207 out of 1,827 open burning cases recorded last year involved waste collection sites, which pose significant risks when unfiltered waste is allowed to accumulate. "We're talking about smouldering fire or slow-burning fires under piles of rubbish. These are not easily visible but can spread without warning, and that's the real danger,' he said. Extinguishing such fires is no simple task, he added, as it requires dismantling the waste piles using heavy machinery such as excavators and large volumes of water. "Sometimes, a relay pumping operation from a nearby river is our only option. But JBPM doesn't own heavy machinery, so we have to rely on help from other agencies," he explained. Farhan Sufyan said that under JBPM's standard operating procedures, the department assumes full responsibility for suppression operations during the first 48 hours. After that, control is handed over to local authorities or appointed agents. "If fires continue beyond that period, further assistance from JBPM will be chargeable, unless the incident poses a danger to public safety. "Many people are unaware that JBPM is not a free service. There are limits and legal structures. However, when lives are at stake, our team responds without hesitation," he said. He added that the Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Unit would be deployed if the fire involved toxic or hazardous substances. "Waste fires are not just about flames. They're about smoke and the toxins they carry. If the situation is too hazardous, we bring in the Hazmat team. "In Kelantan, a Hazmat unit is ready and will be mobilised if on-site assessments indicate elevated risk levels,' he said. Farhan Sufyan also recalled the 2019 Pasir Gudang incident in Johor, where the illegal dumping of chemical waste into Sungai Kim Kim released toxic fumes, affecting thousands of victims and forcing nearby schools to shut down. "That incident is a clear reminder of the critical need for effective waste management and emergency preparedness to go hand in hand," he said. - BERNAMA FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT