He said the project, approved in 2021 under the 12th Malaysia Plan, is estimated to cost RM68.3 million, with the government footing RM39 million and Genting Malaysia Bhd paying the balance under its corporate social responsibility initiative.

“The station, equipped with 40 units of staff quarters, a multipurpose hall and a prayer hall, is expected to take 24 months to build.

“I hope the local government can approve the permit for the construction of the project as soon as possible so that work can be carried out immediately,” Nga told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony today, Bernama reported.

Present were fire and rescue department director-general Nor Hisham Mohammad, Pahang fire and rescue department director Wan Zaidi Wan Isa and Genting’s deputy chairman and CEO, Lim Kok Thay.

According to Nga, there are 27 fire and rescue stations in Pahang and with the additional one at Gohtong Jaya, they can help the department achieve a response time of less than 10 minutes.

“Besides providing services in the Gohtong Jaya area, the station will cover Janda Baik, Bukit Tinggi, as well as Batang Kali and Selayang in Selangor,” he said.

On public-private collaboration, Nga said his ministry welcomes cooperation with the private sector, especially public-listed companies, for the construction of fire stations in new townships.

“With such strategic collaboration, we can speed up all the processes (for the construction of new fire stations) and this will benefit everyone,” he said.