Bomba Act 1988 : What You Should Know About Bomba Act 1988

Bomba Act 1988 is an Act to make fundamental arrangement for the viable and effective working of the Fire Services Department, for the insurance of people and property from flame dangers and for purposes associated therewith.

This Act contain 9 section including Introduction, Administration, Eliminate Fire Risks, Water and Fire Hose, Bomba Certification, Enforcement, Fire Investigation, Group Welfare Fund and Miscellaneous.

Section 1 (Introduction)

Explains on fire risks, fire prevention equipment, Bomba officer, catastrophe and premise. Mostly on basic information regarding fire protection.

Section 2 (administration)

It explains on the Fire Services Department and its officers, appointment matters, department duties, uniform and identity card and power.

The duties of Fire Services Department Including

• Extinguishing, fighting, preventing, and controlling fires
• Protecting life and property in the event of a fire
• Securing the provision, maintenance, and proper regulation of fire-escapes
• Securing the provision of adequate means of exit in the event of fire from all buildings.

Section 3

Bomba Act 1988 explains the abatement of fire-hazard. Giving information more on notice, the power Director General, failure to obey notice, closure order, power of Bomba officer and appeal.

In Bomba Act 1988, it is stated that “Any damage or loss suffered in consequence of any action taken or thing was done by a Fire Officer or Auxiliary Fire Officer in the exercise of his powers or the performance of his duties on the occasion of a fire, in order to put an end to the fire or to check its progress, shall, notwithstanding the terms of any contract of insurance against fire or the provisions of any law, be regarded as loss by fire for the purposes of the contract”.

Meaning, any destruction happened for the sake of controlling and put an end to the fire, no Fire Officer or Auxiliary Fire Officer shall be liable to any action that has done by him in connection with his duties on the occasion of a fire event.

Section 4

Water and Fire Hydrants explains more on water storage, power to install fire hose, the act of hiding and abuse of fire hose, notice for work activities that obstruct fire hose and the responsibility of Water Authority to notify on the hitch of water supply.

Section 5

Give more details on the requirements and fees for certification, the changes that can affect the availability of emergency facilities, the power of Director General to ensure on the use, size or place of certain premises, crime on Bomba certification, the rights to appeal and also the power of the court and Director General.

Section 6

Focuses more on enforcement, explains the enforcement of Act, the power of entry, restriction on disclosure information, the power to arrest without warrant, power of investigation and conduct of prosecution.

Section 7

Emphases more on the investigation on fire. Including the appointment of investigators by the Minister and seizure of premise or property that have been damaged until completion of investigation by Director General.

Section 8

Clarifies on welfare fund, which consists the establishment of the fund, the Fire Services Department Welfare Fund Committee and administration and use of the fund.

Section 9

In section nine, the discussed matters including the individual duty and expenditure. It includes the crimes made and compound etc;

• Complicate the job of Bomba Officer
• Failure to follow instructions
• Falsify documents
• False report

The general penalty would be FIVE THOUSAND RINGGIT (RM5000) or 3 years imprisonment or both.

For more details, read more on Laws of Malaysia Act 341, Fire Service Act 1988.