PETALING JAYA: More than 300 fire-hazard abatement (MBK) notices were issued to healthcare facilities such as clinics, care homes and hospitals last year for failing to meet fire safety standards, says the Fire and Rescue Department.
The facilities include both government and private premises.
Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said the figure was based on fire hazard checks conducted on 566 clinics, 310 care homes and 84 hospital premises conducted last year.
“Based on MBK checks for 2023, the department issued notices with clinics recording the highest number at 45 (109 MBK notices issued), 28 care home premises (199 notices) and 13 hospitals premises (68 notices),” he told The Star.
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He said the main offences for which these notices were issued included defective firefighting tools and the absence of exit signs or emergency lights, among others.
Nor Hisham added that these premises must rectify the matter within the period stipulated to avoid being charged in court.
“Under Act 341 (the Fire Services Act), one can be fined RM3,000 or face a maximum of three years’ imprisonment, or both, for these offences.
“Our concern is that people would not be able to escape or take early action if there is a fire,” he said.
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In 2023, Penang saw the highest number of notices being issued to hospitals, with 34 notices issued to four hospitals. As for clinics, Kuala Lumpur saw the highest number of notices issued, with 50 notices issued to 12 clinics.
For 2024, Kelantan had the highest number of notices issued to hospitals, with 28 notices issued to two hospitals in the state. As for clinics, 25 notices were issued to two clinics in Sarawak.
Nor Hisham said between January and August this year, the department conducted checks on 375 clinics, 206 care homes and 64 hospitals.
Based on these checks, a total of 35 notices were issued to four hospitals, 167 notices to 23 care homes, and 55 notices were issued to 12 clinics.
Commenting on the findings, Malaysian Federation for Occupational Safety and Health chairman Dr Abu Hasan Samad said the numbers could just be the “tip of the iceberg”.
He said the impact of a fire in such facilities would be “quite significant”, as hospitals and clinics are relatively crowded and are occupied by patients, staff as well as caretakers and visitors.
These facilities are also located in public places, therefore the surroundings would also be affected in the event of a fire, he added.
Citing the hospital fire in Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor in 2016 as an example, Abu Hasan said fatalities and the disruption of services are the other effects of such fires.
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“It is also important for the owner or user of premises to make sure they observe the fire safety requirement in terms of exits. There must be a proper way to evacuate people.
“The evacuation must happen within a short period of time and effectively,” he added.
Exit signs, clear staircases that are not blocked by any items, procedures to get headcounts, and managing injured people are some of the aspects that must be looked into, said Abu Hasan.
“Fire drills must be done from time to time,” he added.
He said the reputation of the service providers, including the government, would also be at stake if the premises fails to comply with fire safety standards.
The Star has reached out to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
