‘As for fireworks, it’s very dangerous. You shouldn’t play with them.’
– Jason Pierre-Paul, American footballer
From the balcony of my home in Petaling Jaya, I can see the Ambank Group Building, XOX Complex and several new condominiums surrounding the nearby Tropicana Golf Club enclave.
In a distance, the majestic Petronas Twin Towers can also be seen, even when I’m actually some 25km away from the heart of Kuala Lumpur where the towers are strategically located. This is why the Petronas Towers were once the tallest structure in the world.
On the eve of almost all festive occasions, like Merdeka Day, Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, the New Year’s countdown, there will be fireworks displays I can watch from a distance and the safety of my balcony in the comfort of home.
Although I do not fancy fireworks, I must also say that they are a beautiful sight to behold. I do take them in with much delight.
However, I must also qualify that powerful fireworks such as those used by large corporations on festive occasions or during governmental celebrations must be handled by professionals.
I would not want to light up fireworks, or even firecrackers, by myself and I believe I have not done so…ever. Even as a kid, I never like fireworks. I think the closest I’ve ever handled those stuff has to be the sparklers we used to play with at night during Christmas.
But be wary as this is just what I’ve read about sparklers. Often considered “safe” fireworks for kids, sparklers can burn at temperatures of up to 2,000°F (1,093°C) – hot enough to melt some metals. This poses a significant burn risk to young hands. Now, no fireworks are safe, so don’t be fooled!
As Chinese New Year approaches, we can now see many makeshift stalls by the roadside selling firecrackers and fireworks. I guess it’s the same in every township, whether it’s Kuala Lumpur Petaling Jaya or Kuching or Sibu.
I believe that selling fireworks can be quite lucrative because I doubt many customers are aware of their real worth or value. It’s somewhat similar to the medications sold in pharmacies.
We know that there are fixed prices but there are always the unscrupulous business people who are out to make a quick buck from unsuspecting clients.
Thousands of ringgit or even a million or two could go up in smoke during a fireworks display of 10 or 15 minutes. Ordinarily, a family could easily spend a few thousand ringgit for firecrackers and fireworks during a Chinese New Year celebration.
Well, the Chinese believe they have to create loud noises to chase away bad luck. So, what’s a few thousand ringgit for some seriously deafening “pops” for a year of good luck?
It’s not so much about how expensive fireworks are that I never like the stuff. It’s everything to do with how dangerous fireworks are, particularly to children.
Young children may not fully understand how fireworks work or appreciate the dangers they pose. This can lead to risky behaviour, like handling fireworks improperly or getting too close to them.
Fireworks are essentially small explosives and can cause serious injuries such as burns, lacerations and even loss of fingers or limbs if mishandled.
There were those times when we heard of children in the kampungs being seriously injured by their homemade bamboo cannons. Some must have been scarred for life. Happily, such reports are quite rare nowadays.
Fireworks can misfire, malfunction, or change direction unexpectedly, potentially injuring children too close or in the path of flying debris.
In case we are really that ‘blind’, we must surely be aware that fireworks are fire hazards. They can ignite clothing, grass, or other flammable materials, leading to fires that can quickly get out of control.
I think I have to pause here and ask: Seriously, is it worth it to play with fireworks or worse, allow our little ones to handle such dangerous stuff?
We should know that children may not have the coordination needed to safely handle fireworks, increasing the risk of accidents.
They may also act impulsively or ignore safety rules, even under supervision, making it challenging to keep them safe around fireworks.
Yes, we can learn all the tips to keep our kids safe or supervise them around fireworks. But I say, let’s keep fireworks away from them; just let them enjoy the displays from a safe distance. Better safe than sorry.
The other dangers which affect all of us is that fireworks release chemicals and gases, such as sulfur dioxide and heavy metals, which can be harmful if inhaled, particularly for individuals with respiratory issues.
In many countries, there are strict laws regarding the purchase, possession and use of fireworks due to their potential for harm.
Looking up the Home Ministry webpage on “What kind of fireworks are legal in Malaysia?”, this is the information provided: “These explosive matters (or better known as firecrackers or fireworks) that is approved to be imported and sold is of the brand Happy Boom and Pop-pop. Other explosive is banned and ignition is only allowed with the approval of the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.”
I believe that we have given more leeway towards the sale of fireworks now. But I still think that the government should review the enforcement, sales, and safety protocols of fireworks display, particularly in public areas. Fireworks will always pose a danger around us.
Have a safe Chinese New Year, everyone…minus the fireworks.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
