Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia (FRDM) / Melvin Amuk

Malaysian Fire Services was formed in 1883 with 15 members of the Volunteer Fire Services in Selangor, headed by H.F. Bellamy and placed under the supervision of the Sanitary Board. In 1895 the volunteer organisation became the Permanent Fire and Rescue Services. Fire services were eventually established in every state in Malaya and placed under the administration of the municipal council or the Rural Board. In 1946, following Second World War, the Malayan Union Services (MUS) was formed with Flight Lt W.J. Gerumandi as the director. MUS had its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Through the Federated Malay States Treaty, the Fire Services were handed over to the state governments under the administration of the Municipal Councils or the Rural Board. In 1952, the Fire Inspectorate of the Fire Services was formed to co-ordinate the state services under the Ministry of Development and Local Government. On January 1, 1976, except for the fire services in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Malacca which were unified latter on January 1, 1977, the state fire services in Peninsular Malaysia were centralized as the Fire Services Department of Malaysia at federal level and placed under the Ministry Housing and Local Government. To complete the federalization process, the East Malaysia states of Sabah and Sarawak were brought under the umbrella of the department on May 15, 1981. The Cabinet Ministers Meeting on January 8, 1997 approved to the change of name of Fire Services Department of Malaysia to be Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia. This moment was officially announced during the launching of the new name, logo and flag of the department at Genting Highlands by the Most Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamed.