AN MCA leader said the tragic Mont Kiara condominium fire which claimed the life of a resident and exposed serious lapses in emergency readiness must serve as a wake-up call for Malaysians.
The party’s urban affairs bureau chairman Tan Gim Tuan said the nation cannot continue the “unhealthy” trend of only reacting after lives are lost, adding that the safety of high-rise communities is a shared responsibility that requires urgency, discipline and accountability.
Tan was referring to the fire on the 26th floor of the Tiffani Kiara condominium on Wednesday night (Dec 10) that left a 38-year-old man dead.
“At present, annual fire drills are compulsory for commercial buildings, but not for residential strata properties. This gap is unacceptable,” he said.
“The MCA Urban Affairs Bureau proposes that the Housing and Local Government Ministy and the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) enact legislation mandating compulsory, scheduled fire drills for all non-landed residential buildings.
“Millions of Malaysians live in condominiums and apartments, yet many have never once participated in a fire drill since moving in. Preparedness saves lives, and legislation must reflect this reality.”
According to news reports, the affected building’s fire-prevention system reportedly malfunctioned, forcing firefighters to rely on portable pumps due to low water pressure, a fact that Tan said should alarm every management corporation in Malaysia.
“It is an added safety check for condominium residents that Management Corporations (MCs) and Joint Management Bodies (JMBs) should proactively self-regulate by conducting frequent inspections and maintenance of hydrants, pumps, alarms, extinguishers and all firefighting systems to ensure they are functional and operable during emergencies,” he stressed.
“Simultaneously, there should be no items stored at or blocking safety exits. Negligence in these areas endangers entire communities and cannot be tolerated. In addition to systemic improvements, individual responsibility matters too.
“The victim was reported to be living alone. This is a reminder of the importance of regularly checking in on family members, neighbours and friends, especially those who stay by themselves. A simple message or visit can make a difference.”
Tan said residents should also consider enhancing home safety by installing basic fire-prevention tools such as smoke detectors, fire blankets and small extinguishers, adding that these affordable measures are worthwhile investments that can provide early warning and potentially save lives before emergency teams arrive.
“Society can ill-afford to letting this fire tragedy become another moment Malaysians forget once the headlines fade,” he added.
“Fire safety in high-rise living is not optional. It is a collective duty of authorities, building managers, and every resident to ensure that preventable loss of life and property never happens again.”
The fire was successfully extinguished at 2.03am, with the blaze completely destroying the unit.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the forensics team. ‒ Dec 12, 2025
Main image: X/GengKNegara
