Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM/Bomba)

When a house catches fire, a car is trapped in a flood, or a worker is wedged in a confined space, one and the same number becomes the first link between the victim and help — and at the end of that line, more often than not, is Bomba. Understanding what the law actually empowers this department to do explains why Bomba turns up at so many kinds of emergency, not just fires.

At a glance

Full name	Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) / Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia
Common name	Bomba
Type	Federal government department
Parent ministry	Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT)
Enabling statute	Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341)
Royal assent	11 May 1988
Gazetted	9 June 1988
In force	1 January 1989 (P.U. (B) 701/1988), throughout Malaysia
Head of department	Director General of Fire Services (Ketua Pengarah Bomba)
Headquarters	Lebuh Wawasan, Presint 7, 62250 Putrajaya
Headquarters line	03-8892 7600
Emergency number	999 (MERS 999)
Website	bomba.gov.my

Act 341 was given royal assent on 11 May 1988 and gazetted on 9 June 1988, but only came into force throughout Malaysia on 1 January 1989. The long title of the Act states its purpose succinctly: to make provision for “the effective and efficient functioning of the Fire Services Department, for the protection of persons and property from fire risks”. The full text of the Act can be consulted on the official portal of the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), which lists the latest reprint dated 1 April 2023.

What is Bomba’s job in law, exactly?

Most people think of Bomba purely as firefighters. Section 5 of the Act gives a broader picture — it lists the department’s official duties, and it is that list which allows Bomba to be present at scenes where there is no fire at all.

Provision	Duty
Section 5(1)(a)(i)	Extinguishing, fighting, preventing and controlling fires
Section 5(1)(a)(ii)	Protecting life and property in the event of a fire
Section 5(1)(a)(iii)–(iv)	Ensuring adequate emergency exits and means of escape in certain premises
Section 5(1)(b)	Investigating the cause, origin and circumstances of a fire
Section 5(1)(c)	Carrying out humanitarian services, including protecting life and property in any disaster
Section 5(2)	Other duties imposed by law or directed by the Minister

It is the humanitarian-services clause in Section 5(1)(c) that is the statutory basis for Bomba’s rescue work. This is in turn reinforced by Section 19, which gives Bomba officers the power to act in “emergencies not involving fire” — that is, emergencies that do not involve a fire at all.

More than just putting out fires

Because of that mandate, Bomba has become a versatile response agency. In the field, its role typically encompasses:

• Firefighting — residential, commercial, industrial and open fires.
• Technical rescue — road accidents, water rescue, confined spaces, and victims trapped in collapses.
• Disaster relief — floods, storms and major incidents, in line with the humanitarian-services duty under Section 5(1)(c).
• Fire investigation — determining the cause and origin of fires under Section 5(1)(b).
• Fire safety and prevention — inspections, fire certificates and public education, under the framework of Part III and Part V of the Act.

For purely medical emergencies, the lead agency within the 999 system is the Ministry of Health’s ambulance service; Bomba, for its part, provides rescue response and on-scene support under its humanitarian mandate.

How is Bomba organised and led?

The Act establishes a “Fire Services Department of the Federation” headed by a Director General of Fire Services, assisted by Deputy Directors General, Assistant Directors General and Directors (Section 3). Importantly for the public: subsection 3(3) requires a State Director of Fire Services for each state — so every state has its own Bomba administration, with fire stations under it. Official statistics on the number of stations and personnel by state are published by JBPM through data.gov.my.

Every Bomba officer is subject to the control and direction of the Director General (subsection 3(5)), and the Director General may delegate his powers in writing to any officer (Section 7).

How do I contact Bomba?

Need	Contact
Emergency (fire, rescue, disaster)	999 — free
General enquiries / headquarters	03-8892 7600
State matters (fire certificates, inspections)	The respective State Fire and Rescue Department, via bomba.gov.my

In an emergency, dial 999. The call is handled by MERS 999 (Malaysia Emergency Response Services), a single platform connecting five agencies — the police, Bomba, the Ministry of Health, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the civil defence force. State your location precisely and the type of emergency so that the call is routed to the correct agency. According to the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM), every call made through the 999 emergency line is free.

Nomenclature note: the civil defence agency is now officially known as the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) on its official website (civildefence.gov.my). The MERS 999 page at malaysia.gov.my, meanwhile, still lists it under the old name Civil Defence Department (JPAM) — the same body. Confirm the latest official nomenclature before relying on it in official documents.

What next

If you are dealing with building fire safety — fire certificates, emergency exits or inspections — refer to your State Fire and Rescue Department and the provisions of Part V of Act 341. If your interest is Malaysia’s emergency response system as a whole, start with how 999 / MERS 999 routes calls between the five agencies, and the roles of partner agencies such as the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) and the Royal Malaysia Police. For the full text of the statutory duties and powers, refer to the Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341) on the official portal of the Attorney General’s Chambers listed in the sources below.