PETALING JAYA: Fire hazards in buildings, especially older ones, remain a serious and widespread problem that cannot be ignored, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (pic).
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said fire prevention is everyone’s responsibility, stressing that building owners and management bodies must play a proactive role in ensuring their premises fully comply with safety regulations and standards.
"We must not wait until a tragedy occurs before taking action.
"The cost of negligence can be devastating, involving loss of lives, destruction of property, disruption of business, and emotional trauma to victims and families," he said in a statement on Wednesday (May 20).
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Lee said many older buildings, especially pre-war and heritage structures, are highly vulnerable because of ageing electrical systems as well as poor maintenance.
"Immediate steps must be taken to conduct proper electrical audits, replace unsafe wiring, and ensure that fire prevention systems like alarms, extinguishers, hydrants and emergency exits are always in good working condition," he said.
He stressed that protecting heritage buildings is particularly important as they are part of our national identity, history, and cultural legacy.
"Building owners and the authorities must work together to strengthen fire prevention measures and ensure strict compliance with safety requirements," he said.
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Lee also urged all building owners, tenants and property managers to take fire hazard notices seriously and act immediately to rectify any identified risks.
"Preventive maintenance, regular inspections and public awareness are essential in reducing the risk of fires," he said.
This comes as the Fire and Rescue Department revealed that flammable structures, narrow escape routes and ageing safety systems are among recurring fire risks found in heritage buildings nationwide.
ALSO READ: Over 25,000 fire risk warnings issued since 2023
According to reports, there were approximately 25,000 pre-war buildings in Malaysia as of 2023.
The department also revealed that more than 25,000 fire hazard abatement notices (MBK) were issued nationwide between 2023 and March this year.
A total of 1,876 MBK were issued in 2023 with the numbers rising to 8,968 in 2024 and 10,916 last year.
The MBK was most issued to alternative residential premises, which include industrial hostels and workers’ dormitories.
