SANDAKAN: A man whose outburst against firefighters during the Kampung Bahagia fire that went viral has issued a public apology, saying his emotions got the better of him during the chaotic incident.
Rozaizar Ishak, who was seen in a widely circulated video scolding firemen and calling them “useless”, said he regretted his words and acknowledged the efforts of the Fire and Rescue Department.
In another viral clip circulating online, a group of villagers were seen shouting at firefighters, with some heard yelling “balik la kamu!”.
In an apology video released on Tuesday, Rozaizar said he lost control of his emotions.
“I apologise to the firefighters who were on duty that day. My emotions were not under control and I used inappropriate words. I retract my statements,” he said.
He added that he now understood the challenges faced by the firefighters, who were working tirelessly to contain the blaze and assist the affected community.
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“I understand the firefighters were doing their best to control the fire and help the people in Sandakan. They sacrificed a lot. I am only human and I ask for forgiveness,” he said.
Rozaizar’s earlier video, recorded during the fire, showed him expressing frustration and accusing firefighters of not focusing on the central area of the blaze.
When contacted on the day of the incident, he said he was alerted to the fire at 1am and rushed to the scene with villagers.
“We tried to put out the fire but couldn’t. When the situation became serious, we had to prioritise saving our family members and essential belongings,” he said.
He admitted feeling disappointed with the firefighting response at the time, claiming the fire spread rapidly through the central area.
“We felt a bit disappointed because the firefighters were not focused in the central area. If that area had been controlled and there was equipment to draw water from the nearby river, the fire might not have become this big,” he said.
When contacted on Tuesday, Rozaizar said he regretted scolding the firefighters, but hoped people would understand that he was under immense stress when the video was recorded.
“I had to watch homes burn right before my eyes, and all my efforts felt useless. I was very emotional at the time,” he said.
According to villagers, firefighters were seen entering the area at about 2am but had to leave shortly after to search for a water source as they did not have sufficient supply at the scene.
They also claimed they had pleaded with firefighters to allow them to use a water pump to draw water from a river located in the middle section of the village, but the request was declined.
Sandakan Fire and Rescue Station Chief, Senior Fire Superintendent Jimmy Lagung, when contacted, confirmed that the team had to leave temporarily to secure a water source, eventually locating one near the IOI factory.
He said firefighters prioritised operations in that area first, which delayed their ability to move into the central section of the village.
He added that the operation was further complicated by narrow access routes and other logistical constraints.
By the time firefighters were able to reach the middle section of the village around 7am, tensions had escalated, with residents seen shouting and jeering at the team.
Jimmy said such reactions were not uncommon during high-pressure situations.
“Situations like this are something we are used to. We understand that victims are under immense pressure, so we forgive them and see it as part of the challenges of the job,” he said.
The incident also drew widespread attention on social media, with many users criticising those seen in the viral videos for directing their anger at firefighters.
Some netizens pointed out the difficult conditions faced by the firemen, including limited access, lack of immediate water sources and the rapid spread of the blaze in a densely populated area.
Others urged the public to be more understanding, noting that emergency responders were risking their lives while carrying out their duties.
