Wake-up call for authorities

PETALING JAYA: Recent deadly fires are a wake-up call for state authorities to adopt fire safety by-laws which were passed five years ago but have yet to be gazetted in all states.

Fire and Rescue Services Department director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said only Sabah, Selangor, Terengganu and Penang have gazetted the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 (Amendment 2012) (UBBL) to better protect those living in both high-rise and low-rise homes in the country.

He said that apart from these four states, Sarawak has its own building ordinance.

“I hope that those states which have yet to adopt the by-laws will do so as soon as possible,” he told The Star.

Under the UBBL, all residential buildings above 30m or 10 storeys built after 2012 in the four states must be equipped with fire detectors.

Furthermore, low-rise homes below 18m built after 2012 must also come equipped with a fire extinguisher.

“Those purchasing a new home have the right to ask their developers for a fire extinguisher in states that have adopted the by-laws,” he added.

However, Wan Mohd said it was for local councils, as the authority that approves building plans, to monitor the implementation of the UBBL.

“The fire department does not have the manpower to conduct door-to-door inspection on all residences.

“It is left to local councils and homeowners to ensure that the fire extinguisher requirement is met,” he said.

Asked about the delay by some states in gazetting the UBBL, Wan Mohd said it was due to complacency and low priority given to fire safety.

He also advised homeowners to install window grilles that can be opened to avoid being trapped inside their houses or apartments during a fire.

On Feb 6, a family of four perished in a pre-dawn fire after being trapped on the upper floor of their double-storey terrace house in Jalan USJ 2/3, Subang Jaya.

The body of Lim Ah Kok, 58, was found with those of his two sons, Yong Liang, 20, and Yong Wei, 17, in the second room on the upper floor while his wife Goh Bee Khim, 51, was found in the bathroom of the master bedroom.

On a separate matter, Wan Mohd said there are plans to set up a fire consultant registry to ensure that only registered consultants are allowed to submit building fire safety plans to the local authorities for approval.

In 2016, fires claimed a total of 107 lives while injuring 477 and causing RM2.86bil in losses.

The highest number of deaths were recorded in Selangor (20) followed by Sabah (19), Johor (17) and Sarawak (10).