Launch of Emergency Response Team (ERT) at the Ashby Road Flats, Ipoh
An Emergency Response Team (ERT) was launched by Ipoh City Mayor Y.Bhg. Dato’ Rumaizi bin Baharin@Md Daud on the morning of Sunday, 25th Sept 2022, at the Ashby Road flats along Jalan Hospital, Ipoh.
Also present at the launch were Tuan Mohamad Irwan bin Amernuddin, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Community Empowerment Secretariat for Ashby Road flats, who represented the Ministry of Housing and Local Government; Encik Ahmad Hiszam bin Haruddin, Chairman of Rukun Tetangga for Ashby Road flats, Ipoh City Councillors and the Council’s Heads of Department.
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government has approved an allocation of RM12,252.00 for the Ipoh City Council to implement this programme for the benefit of the citizens of Ipoh.
Although planned earlier, the launch of this ERT programme had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and infection risk. Now that we are in the endemic phase, the programme can finally be implemented. Hopefully, it benefits Ipoh citizens, especially the residents of Ashby Road flats.
The selection of Ashby Road flats as the location for the inauguration of this ERT launch was in consideration of a few factors. There are 12 building blocks consisting of 584 residential units and 22 shophouses. Each block has three or four floors.
As of March 2022, there are 1,734 residents from various races, the majority of whom are from the vulnerable B40 group.
The establishment of ERT at the Ashby Road flats is highly anticipated by the residents. Some of them will be trained by the Fire & Rescue Department of Malaysia (BOMBA) on providing first aid in the event of a fire disaster in the area. Besides first aid, these selected residents will also learn about fire prevention which can help in reducing the risk of major fires.
City Councils, as the third-level government administrators of the country, are the closest to the citizens. As such, the Ipoh City Council plays an important role at the grass-roots level in ensuring the well-being of the people. The Council focuses on providing services for a comfortable, safe and peaceful life among its residents through a tip-top municipal infrastructure.
Having said this, the involvement of the community is essential so that they will also play their respective roles, such as maintaining the facilities that have been provided. The budget that would be spent on repairing damage to equipment and public facilities can be better used on other development efforts.
Nonetheless, emergency situations can happen unexpectedly. Therefore, people have to be prepared in the event of untoward incidents, but prevention is always better.
As it is a known fact that flats pose a high risk of severe fire situations that can cause the loss of personal effects, residence, or even life, the community should not solely depend on BOMBA. The department is calling on everyone to cooperate with them when it comes to combating and controlling fires. To help deal with the constraints faced by BOMBA and to ensure that the environment, properties, and lives are preserved, “Community Risk Reduction” is the best approach. It benefits the residents in fire prevention due to various factors, including negligence, treachery, or lack of knowledge.
Therefore, one approach that needs to be taken is to establish an Emergency Response Team (ERT) to help in the following matters:-
i. Reducing the risk from the spread of fire or worsening conditions and alarming through early intervention and prevention methods to control the situation;
ii. Early intervention will reduce injury and possible loss of life through training skills in handling emergency equipment and using emergency “first aid” methods;
iii. Regular and effective evacuation of occupants;
iv. Have an emergency action plan for each situation; as well as
v. Reflecting the concerns of residents and local government in preserving the lives of residents.
It is an approach that encourages public involvement in solving a problem that may arise in one location. The community development programme is to fuel the spirit of volunteerism among the community for their own wellbeing.
The launch of this ERT programme clearly shows how all parties are aware of the importance of establishing it in selected areas in preparation for disasters and this is in line with the efforts of the Ipoh City Council to make Ipoh a Prosperous City.
Event: Launch of Emergency Response Team (ERT) at the Ashby Road Flats, Ipoh
Venue: Ashby Road Flats, Ipoh
Date: 25th Sept, 2022
Time: 9am
