THE Fire Service Act 1988 will be reviewed to provide a more severe penalty for those who misuse fire hydrants, said Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming.

He said under the existing provision, offenders may be issued with a compound of between RM100 and RM500.

“I think the compound amount is not sufficient to send a message. It (punishment) must serve as a deterrent. We will review the law, increase the compound, (and) prosecute the culprits in court,” he said at a press conference in Shah Alam today.

On May 11, the Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) in a statement said a contractor was fined RM100 for misusing a fire hydrant.

This was linked to Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff’s move to channelling water from a fire hydrant to a tanker for distribution to her constituents during a water shortage.

Siti Zailah however denied she stole water from the fire hydrant, instead claiming she had obtained permission from Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd and the Kelantan FRD to do so. – Bernama, May 16, 2023.