BINTULU: The Bintulu District Disaster Management Committee has been urged to establish a specialised task force focusing on the heavy industrial areas of Samalaju.
Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the task force must include setting up group chats for real-time updates, personnel training, security mechanisms and implementing crisis management protocols.
“In a dedicated meeting addressing safety management in industrial park, I urged all factories, especially those operating 24 hours a day, to establish their own crisis response volunteer teams and security groups.
“These teams must undergo regular, systematic training to continuously improve their crisis management capabilities.
“Enterprises and factories must also report disasters promptly and truthfully.
“Real-time communication mechanisms should be established, with updates shared in group chats, including the severity of the disaster, casualty numbers, and air pollution indices. This enables all relevant parties to function optimally within their roles and take immediate, necessary measures,” he said in his Facebook post.
Tiong added that as disasters often involve severe injuries, it is also crucial to ensure that medical personnel at Samalaju’s factory clinics receive professional training and are equipped with adequate first-aid supplies.
“This allows for proper emergency treatment before hospital emergency teams arrive, he added, noting that given the unique nature of the Samalaju Industrial Zone, the current firefighting and rescue equipment in Samalaju and Bintulu town is insufficient to handle large-scale disasters effectively.
Tiong stressed that heavy industry is one of the lifelines of Bintulu’s economic development.
“While we welcome enterprises and factories to invest and create employment opportunities, we must not overlook the potential risks, including public health and safety, and air quality.
“Safeguarding the wellbeing of local communities must remain a priority,” he stated.
