Tuesday, 27 December 2016 | MYT 5:44 PM
The Bomba calendar is back!
THE STAR
T
Abang Bomba January rocking the tough chainsaw look.
PETALING JAYA: One of Malaysia’s most sought-after annual calendars is buff, burly, and back in circulation.
The Fire and Rescue Department’s 2017 calendar again features images of strapping firemen carrying out their duties.
From the chainsaw-wielding, broad-shouldered officers in January to the muscular, rain-soaked search and rescue personnel in April, the calendar highlights not only their physiques but also their efforts in ensuring the safety and security of Malaysians.
While half of the calendar displays officers posing with glistening biceps, the other half focuses on the difficult daily missions that Bomba undertakes, such as rescue missions at accident sites, quelling forest fires, and airlifting victims from rugged mountain peaks.
The 2017 calendar also depicts female members of the force carrying out tasks like patrolling on their motorcycles and preparing to administer first aid.
As with previous years, all the calendar models are full-time Bomba staff.
And as per usual, these calendars are not for sale but for internal circulation. Members of the public can try to get a copy at Bomba-hosted public events, but going by the track record, they are in limited supply and run out fast.
“For this year's calendar, we have mixed the themes,” Fire and Rescue Department Corporate Management division Senior Supt Norizan Saad told The Star Online.
“The images are of the department’s machinery, firefighting missions, water rescues, and forensics elements.
“This is to show that our scope of work includes duties outside our core activity, which is firefighting and general rescue services,” he said.
And there is a reason for that “buff” look in the calendar’s models.
“From the middle of this year and into next year, we are promoting a ‘Let’s Get Fit’ programme,” said Norizan.
“Hopefully, the abang-abang sado (muscular male officers) will show that we are a fit department,” he added.
He also said that the pictures of female officers in the motorcycle rapid intervention team and Emergency Medical Rescue Services illustrate the fact that men and women are equally important and carry out the same duties within Bomba.
