Fire razes second floor of Universiti Malaysia Perlis building

ARAU: A fire broke out on the second floor of a three-storey building that houses Universiti Malaysia Perlis’ (UniMAP) Centre for Industrial and Government Collaboration and Engineering Mathematics Institute (CIGC and IMK) at the main campus here late Wednesday.

State Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Mohd Firdaus Yusof said the fire destroyed 70 per cent of the second floor.

However, no injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was still being investigated.

Mohd Firdaus said 23 firefighters from the Arau, Kuala Perlis and Kangar stations were rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 7.27pm.

"As soon as we arrived, we noticed thick smoke billowing from the second floor.

"The firefighters entered the premises to break the ceiling for ventilation and the fire was put out at 8.07pm," he said in statement on Thursday.

Meanwhile, UniMAP vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Zul Azhar Zahid Jamal said several important documents, including memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were kept in the building.

He added that the total damage and losses could only be determined after a full investigation.

Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, who is the chancellor of UniMAP, had also visited the site along with several senior university staff.