PETALING JAYA: The Fire and Rescue Department plans to expand inspections of illegal “bird’s nest” hostels to other states if similar cases are detected, following ongoing enforcement in Kuala Lumpur.
The department’s Fire Safety Division director, Datuk Norazam Khamis, said they are already moving to curb fire hazards in unapproved residential premises in Kuala Lumpur, many of which have poor building safety standards.
“We are also verifying the actual number of such (illegal) premises with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) around Kuala Lumpur,” he added.
Norazam said currently the department is also carrying out intelligence gathering and on-site checks to identify premises suspected of being used as unapproved accommodation.
“We will inspect to determine whether these buildings are being used as hostels and assess their fire safety risks, including escape routes, alarms, and compartmentation,” said Norazam.
He further noted that many of the (illegal) premises lacked adequate escape routes, emergency exits, fire alarm systems and emergency lighting, among other critical fire safety installations.
“Some of the buildings also did not have sufficient fire compartmentation.
“Such deficiencies could cause flames, heat and smoke to spread rapidly throughout the structure, reducing the time available for occupants to escape and increasing the risk of fatalities,” he said.
He also added that the rooms had unsafe electrical wiring in cramped interior spaces and flammable materials, which further complicate search-and-rescue operations for authorities and occupants.
“Our approach is proactive and based on strategic inter-agency cooperation to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations and to protect lives and property,” he said in the interview.
He also reminded building owners to ensure that their premises were used only for purposes approved by the authorities and that all fire safety requirements under the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 and the Fire Services Act were fully complied with.
Under the nation’s laws, those who do not comply with fire risk rules in buildings can be fined up to RM5,000, or jailed upon conviction.
Norazam added that, so far, the department had been conducting inspections of buildings across Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor, assessing their fire safety risks under Ops Sarang Burung.
