KUANTAN, May 9 (Bernama) -- In honour of his dedication and courage, Senior Fire Officer II Mohd Hazrizam Hasin from Maran fire and rescue station was today honoured with the Bintang Wira Merah medal at the Pahang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Service Medal Awards ceremony.
He was among 16 members of the JBPM’s Tactical Operations Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) deployed to Gaziantep, Turkiye, in February 2023 to assist in a humanitarian mission following a devastating earthquake.
Recalling his experience in the Eurasian country, Mohd Hazrizam said he rescued a two-year-old boy and his father, who had miraculously survived seven days under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
“They were covered in dust when I carried them out. The father told me he had kept his child alive by giving his own saliva to his son to keep the toddler hydrated,” he said after the event which was officiated by JBPM director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad.
Having served in the JBPM for 20 years, Mohd Hazrizam said this was his first time undertaking a mission in extreme cold while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Apart from the international humanitarian mission, Mohd Hazrizam said he was also involved in the search and rescue (SAR) operation for victims of the Batang Kali landslide in Selangor on Dec 16, 2022.
He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the JBPM for awarding him the Bintang Wira Merah medal.
“I would also like to thank the JBPM director-general (Nor Hisham) and STORM commander Ismail Abd Ghani for providing many opportunities and shaping me into who I am today,” he said.
Mohd Hazrizam hoped that he would inspire other firefighters to stay committed and passionate in carrying out their duties.
The Bintang Wira Merah is bestowed on any firefighter recognised by the JBPM director-general for making significant and outstanding contributions to firefighting missions at both national and international levels.
Meanwhile, Nor Hisham said at the ceremony that his department honoured 70 firefighters with the the Fire Service Medal, 77 with the Excellent Service Award, 46 with the 30-Year Service Certificate, and 21 with the Certificate of Commendable Service for Auxiliary Fire Officers.
In the meantime, he said the World Firefighters Day celebration, held at Padang Majlis Bandaraya Kuantan 1 here on May 4, saw an extraordinary turnout, with 10,000 visitors attending the event.
--BERNAMA
