KOTA KINABALU: A retiree never thought he will survive 41 years of service at the Fire and Rescue department here when he was almost electrocuted in his first year.
Hussin@ Rudiee Antang, 61, recalled the unforgettable moment when a live wire was hanging precariously right above his head as he was putting out a fire in Lahad Datu.
“It was in 1975 when a fire broke out at a warehouse. One of the wires was about to fall on my colleague and I.
“Both of us could have died if we had made the slightest mistake at that time,” he said, adding that thankfully, both of them survived.
Hussin was among 19 personnel who received retirement certificates from the department Director-General Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim at the state headquarters today.
He is also perhaps one of the country’s longest serving government servants in the department.
Hussin reported duty when he was just 18-year-old and his passion for helping people grew through his career as a fire fighter, operator and officer.
“For those who want to become a rescue personnel, they should be aware that they would need to fully devote their time and commitment to the job as lives are at stake here.”