KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) are spearheading the development of lithium battery fire suppression technology to address increasingly complex fire risks arising from modern technological advancements.
The initiative was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two parties at the Executive Board Meeting Room, Chancellery Building, UMS, on Thursday.
UMS vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor said the strategic collaboration reflected the university’s commitment to strengthening research, innovation and technology transfer that directly benefits society and the nation.
“This strategic collaboration opens up broad opportunities for the sharing of expertise between academia and government agencies in developing science and technology-based solutions.
“UMS is committed to ensuring the collaboration is translated into the implementation of high-impact programmes capable of empowering human capital development and public safety,” he said.
Meanwhile, JBPM director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said the MoU would focus on developing research and innovation in more effective and sustainable fire suppression media technology.
“Today’s firefighting challenges are becoming increasingly complex with the emergence of new risks such as lithium-ion battery fires involving electric vehicles (EVs), data centres and green technology devices.
“Through this collaboration, we will explore more effective suppression methods to scientifically and efficiently address modern fire threats,” he said.
Among the other strategic areas of cooperation outlined in the MoU are the exchange of instructors, specialised training and academic collaboration in fire protection engineering and safety.
Both parties also emphasised the adoption of new technologies such as robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve firefighting operational efficiency.
JBPM also awarded a RM100,000 research grant to UMS to conduct studies related to peatland fire suppression operations and operational effectiveness in the field.
The study is expected to help improve fire suppression strategies in a more systematic and effective manner, particularly in tackling peatland fires that have significant environmental impacts.
The MoU also covers the development of operational documents such as the Pre-Incident Plan (PIP) and Incident Action Plan (IAP) as part of efforts to strengthen technology transfer to JBPM personnel, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
The collaboration is seen as a proactive step in bridging the gap between academic research and practical field applications while driving the development of more responsive fire suppression technologies to meet current challenges.
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