A 39-year-old man has issued an apology to the Fire and Rescue Department after a video of him using abusive language during a major fire incident in Kampung Bahagia went viral on social media.
The man, identified as Rozaizar Rozainie, said his reaction was triggered by emotional distress and panic as he witnessed the chaotic scene, including children running in fear while the blaze spread rapidly.
He explained that at the time, he was overwhelmed by what he saw and did not realise he had used harsh words against firefighters who were responding to the emergency.
“I was overwhelmed with emotion after seeing children running around, unsure of where to go as the fire spread. I did not realise I had used harsh words,” he said when met by Bernama.
The incident occurred during a major fire on April 19 that destroyed around 1,000 homes in the water village, affecting more than four hectares of land and leaving many residents homeless.
Rozaizar later withdrew his remarks after gaining a clearer understanding of the situation on the ground, acknowledging that he had not fully observed the firefighting efforts taking place behind the scene.
“I didn’t see everything clearly at first. It turned out the firefighters were at the back trying to control the fire,” he added.
The Fire and Rescue Department had earlier stated that operations were hampered by several challenges, including narrow access routes, the absence of fire hydrants, and strong winds that helped the flames spread quickly.
