KUALA LUMPUR: The Fire and Rescue Department encouraged its staff to participate in more health-conscious and fun activities, including via social networking platforms.
Its director-general Datuk Seri Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said the participation of his men in taking up the viral 'Panama Dance Challenge' was not only a bold and trendy move but a form of exercise.
Speaking of the viral video the Gua Musang Fire and Rescue station posted recently, he said it reminded him of the Poco-Poco and the Rumba moves, which was once a big hit.
"It is a great idea and a good initiative taken by the personnel using the internet. Although the video was made for a challenge, the same idea can be used to help them exercise and stay fit, in line with the departments call to get fit," he said, when asked to comment on the video which has been shared over 3,000 times.
The recent post made viral on the networking sites was part of the latest hype and dance challenge circulating on the internet, called 'Panama Dance Challenge'.
The challenge, just like the Harlem Shake, Gangnam style, and likened to the ice bucket challenge, called on challengers to dance to the 2013 catchy reggae song by Matteo titled Panama.
However, unlike the ice bucket challenge which was meant to create awareness on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a motor neuron disease, this challenges is simply to display one's dancing talents, not limited to any age group, department, agency or what so ever.
The challenge required those participating to emulate Matteo's moves or even better, come up with their very own creative moves for the Panama song.
"From what I see, there is nothing wrong with the department personnel or officers taking part in such dance or fun challenges. It just goes to show that we too can be fun and know how to have fun despite having a busy work schedule," Wan Mohd Nor said.
He said the department encouraged its staff to get fit and this was a creative way which doesn't sway far off our course or duty.
"This is the creative way of getting fit when the normal fitness regime can be boring," he said giving the video and his personnel a thumbs up.
Other than the Fire and Rescue Department, uniformed agencies such as the Perlis Road Transport Department, Health Ministry and Hospitals too have joined the hype by making their own videos for the song and posting them as a challenge on social media sites.
Most of these videos have been shared thousands of times and gained positive, constructive comments including praises for the uniformed departments and its personnel.
Wan Mohd Nor said despite the hectic and packed schedule, it was good to see the uniformed personnel take time off to unwind and be creative.