AS a former firefighter based in Perak at the time, I am deeply saddened and disturbed when I read about the death of my former colleagues.

Last year, six firefighters died while on a mission in a mining pool at Taman Putra Perdana in Puchong, Shah Alam.

That was the worst-ever case of serviceman fatality in the nation’s history.

Those in authority insisted that the firemen had strictly adhered to the standard operating procedure, but as an ex-serviceman, I seriously doubt it.

And in November the same year, another firefighter, Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, died after he was critically injured while responding to an emergency call at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya.

He died in hospital on December 17.

This is all heart-breaking and distressing.

Seven families have been devastated – wives lost their husbands, children lost their dads and parents lost their sons.

It is all too easy for those in authority to come up with all kinds of statements and point fingers at each other but in the end, it is the loved ones who suffer.

My question is, if such tragedies were to occur in other countries, the one who is responsible overall would have to be held accountable.

In our case, it should be the minister concerned.

It is indeed difficult to comprehend how six trained firemen could have died just like that had they followed the SOP.

Something was definitely wrong even in the case of Adib.

If the SOP were strictly followed, I remain confident, no firemen would have lost his life.

The minister responsible should rightfully be held accountable and do the rightful, professional thing.

Fine, the families may have been compensated monetarily, but that is not going to bring their loved ones back.

And what is most worrying is what has the ministry done since the tragic incidents to ensure there will be no recurrences.

I personally expected things to be much better under a more responsible and accountable Pakatan Harapan but sadly, where is the accountability? – September 30, 2019.

* Satiman Abdul Hamid reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.