By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, March 31: Sixteen government hospitals in the state have been told to comply with the removal of fire hazards (MBK) by the state Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba).
They are Bau, Lundu, Sentosa, Serian, Simunjan, Miri, Marudi, Bintulu, Lawas, Limbang, Mukah, Kapit, Sarikei, Sibu, Betong and Kanowit hospitals.
Although some of these hospitals are not required to have Fire Certificate (FC) because of the size and location, especially those in the rural districts, they have to comply with MBK.
State fire chief Khirudin Drahman said a fire hazard was anything that encouraged a fire to start and increases the severity of a fire. Common hazardous fire conditions are the result of poor housekeeping and improper storage of hazardous items.
“There are so many fire hazards that can be prevented before tragedy strikes. My worry is the heedless attitude that our society has that invites crisis to happen. When the ingredients are there, crisis is bound to happen, and this is what is happening right now,” he told DayakDaily.
Apart from hospitals, other government buildings that have been served notice to comply with MBK are Housing Development Corporation, SMK Agama Saratok, Kuching Civic Centre, Miri Income Tax office, Industrial Training Institute Kota Semarahan, Miri Youth Institute, Tun Abdul Razak Teacher’s Training College in Kota Samarahan and Radio Television Malaysia, Sarawak.
These premises have been given notice to comply, and failing to do so, they would be taken to court.
Citing the example of the Sultanah Aminah Johor Hospital fire incident in 2016 that killed six patients, Khirudin said that if society didn’t want a similar tragedy to happen, then it must be rectified fast.
He also conveyed a simple message, “I want to see you before the fire, not after.”
Meanwhile, government agencies in Sarawak that do not have Fire Certificate (FC) are Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, Malaysian Pepper Board, State Stadium, Kuching Civic Centre, Miri Income Tax office, Industrial Training Institute Kota Semarahan, Miri Youth Institute, Tun Abdul Razak Teacher’s Training College in Kota Semarahan, Radio Television Malaysia Sarawak and SMK Agama Saratok.
Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and the heart hospital in Kota Samarahan are also operating without FC. — DayakDaily
