10 September, ALOR SETAR – The government plans to allocate a quota of 10 per cent for ownership of affordable homes to staff of the Fire and Rescue Department, said Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

She said the criteria for those eligible would be worked out with priority given to those with many children and single mothers.

Since the ministry is providing affordable homes, I certainly give priority to staff of the Fire and Rescue Department for the ownership quota, she told reporters after a visit to the Jalan Tun Razak Fire and Rescue Station here today.

In another development, she called on the Fire and Rescue Department to increase the number of its volunteer squad, now totaling 14,000 people.

Earlier, Zuraida visited the RM29 million Kedah Fire and Rescue Department headquarters at Jalan Suka Menanti, which will begin operations next month.– BERNAMA