JOHOR BARU: The Fire and Rescue Department has refuted claims that the fire extinguisher and hose reel were locked when a Singaporean motorcyclist's machine caught fire at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) on Sunday.
State department director Siti Rohani Nadir said the motorcyclist's allegations were baseless.
She said all firefighting equipment at the Malaysia-Singapore motorcycle lanes at the Customs Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex were not kept under lock, and were functioning properly.
She said the department had inspected the firefighting equipment including the fire extinguisher and hydrant recently and all were in order.
She also clarified that they received the distress call at 1.45pm and the firefighters arrived at the scene a mere seven minutes later.
"Upon arriving at the scene, the fire was already extinguished by the Rela personnel and police using the fire extinguisher, a 100m hose reel with water sourced from the hydrant nearby.
"We also regularly conducted firefighting training with CIQ staff and Rela members stationed at CIQ BSI, with the most recent Emergency Response Team (ERT) training was conducted less than six months ago.
The New Straits Times had reported that the Singaporean took to social media claiming the emergency response teams at the complex were slow, while the Rela personnel were clueless as to where the fire extinguishers were placed.
The motorcyclist's wife had also claimed that when her husband wanted to break open the box containing the nearest fire hose, he was not allowed to do so by the Rela personnel.
Meanwhile, a Rela spokesman said even though the agency's primary role at the BSI was traffic control, its personnel also received ERT training.
The spokesman refuted claims made by the Singaporeans that their officers were clueless as to where the fire extinguishers were placed, adding that the claims were irresponsible, as the Rela personnel had immediately rendered help to the foreigners.