KUCHING: Amendments to the Sarawak Building Ordinance 1994, involving legislation mandating every house to have a fire alarm, will be presented at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) this year.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, stated that he would present the proposal in an effort to better address building fires.
“It will be introduced progressively, and the reason we introduce it, taking the example of terrace houses, is to focus on individual residences, as fire prevention is a collective community responsibility.
“So, with a fire alarm in every house, you can act and respond earlier,” he said during a press conference after launching the Chinese New Year Fire Safety Campaign 2024 at the Chung Hua Batu Kawa Association Hall today (Feb 3).
Dr Sim who is Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government clarified that the presentation of the proposal was initially scheduled for the DUN session in November of the previous year but was deferred; it is anticipated to be introduced during the upcoming DUN session.
In response to inquiries about potential subsidies for the fire alarm initiative, he said its implementation would be done gradually.
As per the amendment, each residence is mandated to have a fire alarm as a fundamental measure to detect fires.
“The proposal needs to be presented first, and according to the law, the alarms will initially be stored in residential buildings. For your information, so far, these fire alarms are not expensive,” he added.
Dr Sim also thanked the Fire and Rescue Department Sarawak for recording a reduction in fire losses in the previous year.
He credited the department’s efficacy, especially under Director Khirudin Drahman’s leadership, in championing initiatives aimed at addressing and preventing fires through community campaigns.
