Kuala Lumpur: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in collaboration with the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), today launched a free training programme specifically designed for ‘Red Heroes’-retired and retiring firefighters.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced that this initiative, fully funded by NIOSH through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund, aims to benefit 1,000 participants. The courses offered include the ‘Train The Trainer’ programme for professional instructor training, the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Coordinator course, and the ‘Lead Auditor’ course for management system certification.
‘I am very grateful to the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) and NIOSH because, usually, participants would have to pay for such training programmes. However, specifically for our ‘Red Heroes,’ they will receive these courses for free,’ Nga stated after attending the Signing and Exchange of Cooperation Notes ceremony between NIOSH and JBPM at the Parliament lobby today.
The signing and exchange of the Cooperation Notes were carried out by Nga and Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim Chee Keong. Sim expressed optimism that this collaboration would continue to provide skills training for all Malaysians. He noted that with structured training and recognised certification, future fire department retirees will have the opportunity to enhance their skills and improve their employability post-retirement.
In a separate statement, Nga emphasized that the collaboration between JBPM and NIOSH underscores the MADANI government’s commitment to strengthening safety culture and preparedness against fire risks and workplace hazards. He cited records from the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso), which showed 66,574 workplace incidents nationwide last year, and JBPM statistics estimating fire-related losses at RM1.56 billion.
Nga highlighted the importance of strategic collaboration between agencies like JBPM and NIOSH in formulating more effective solutions to tackle these challenges.