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The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department uncovered 27 illegal rental rooms on the rooftops of three buildings along Jalan Tun H S Lee during a raid in the city centre on Tuesday, 30 June
According to the New Straits Times, the joint operation, carried out with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), found that the rooftop spaces had been illegally converted into cramped living quarters that pose serious fire risks.
Fire Safety Division director Datuk Norazam Khamis said the makeshift structures were built with cheap and highly flammable materials such as timber, plywood, and plasterboard
He said inspections found that the largest room measured about 3m by 3m, while the smallest was only around 1.8m by 1.2m, just enough space for two single beds.
Some of the rooms had also been fitted with toilets and stoves.
“This is a death trap because the structures are built using highly flammable materials. Some of the rooms were also being used not only as sleeping quarters, but also as cooking areas. They cook, sleep, and live in the same confined space. If cooking is left unattended, it can easily start a fire,” he said.
Authorities also found that access to the rooftop areas was closely monitored using CCTV cameras
The passageways leading to the units were also secured with locked iron grille gates that could only be accessed by certain individuals.
Norazam said they found a total of 27 rental rooms across the three buildings, each rented out for between RM200 and RM400 a month.
He added that most of the occupants were foreign workers who claimed their employers had rented the units on their behalf. They also claimed they were unaware that the accommodation had not been approved by the authorities.
Following the raid, enforcement action was taken under Section 8 of the Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341)
The department said the building owners have been given seven days to demolish the illegal structures, failing which DBKL will carry out the demolition.