KUCHING, Oct 4: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen wants the issue of fire safety certificates for health facilities to be answered and debated in Parliament following a fire which destroyed a storeroom at the Jalan Masjid Health Clinic here yesterday.
Dr Yii in a press statement today said he has submitted a motion under Standing Order 18(1) to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s office to compel an answer from the Ministry of Health (MoH) regarding fire safety measures at all MoH premises, whether hospitals or government clinics.
He said there were government facilities including hospitals such as Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Sarawak Heart Centre and Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor which have yet to obtain fire safety certificates.
“That’s why I am pushing for this issue to be properly debated and to get answer from the ministry on three main items: the government’s immediate response to help the Jalan Masjid Health Clinic; how many government-owned, managed, leased and linked buildings do not have a fire certificate and how many do not even have a certificate of completion and compliance (CCC); and government’s efforts to strengthen fire safety measures in all hospitals and clinics around Malaysia,” he said.
Besides, Dr Yii also wanted the government to release the accident report on a fire which broke out at Sultanah Aminah Hospital last year.
In view of the Covid-19 pandemic which has led to hospitals being packed, Dr Yii believed that it is even more pertinent now for the fire safety issue to be resolved so that the government buildings are prepared in the event of a fire incident.
Hence, he urges the government to have a policy at all levels to ensure that government buildings, assets and halls are inspected regularly and have the necessary fire safety certificates. — DayakDaily
