KUCHING: The Sarawak Consumers Association (PPS) has urged the developer and management of an apartment building in Kuching to immediately rectify faults in its fire warning system after residents raised concerns about a malfunctioning emergency alarm.
In a statement, PPS said the issue came to light after its president, Dr Wynson Ong, lodged a complaint with the apartment management and the Batu Lintang Fire and Rescue Station following an incident in which the building’s emergency alarm rang continuously from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. due to a system malfunction.
More concerning, however, was that the alarm could only be heard on the lower floors, while residents on the upper levels could barely hear it, even from inside their units.
Staircase lighting in the building was also found to be non-functional, raising serious safety concerns in the event of a real emergency.
The Fire and Rescue Department found significant weaknesses in the nine-storey building’s emergency warning system following an inspection.
During checks carried out up to the sixth floor, the alarm was no longer clearly audible.
Fire authorities are currently obtaining the building’s floor plan from the developer for further evaluation and action.
To improve safety for residents, the Fire and Rescue Department has highlighted several key measures for implementation.
These include installing emergency alarm bells on every floor so that warnings can be clearly heard by all occupants, equipping each level with “break-the-glass” emergency activation buttons for use during a fire, and establishing a clearly marked assembly point to ensure orderly evacuation during emergencies.
A brief survey conducted among residents from the ground floor to the top level revealed that many were unaware the alarm had been sounding on the night of the incident because they could not hear it.
PPS said the situation reflects a serious failure in the building’s safety system and could potentially lead to tragedy in the event of a real fire.
The association stressed that safety is a fundamental right for all residents and consumers. With Sarawak experiencing rapid development and the construction of more high-rise residential buildings, fire safety measures must not be overlooked or compromised.
PPS also reminded developers and building management bodies that they bear significant responsibility for residents’ safety.
Safety systems such as fire alarms, staircase lighting and other emergency facilities are not merely technical requirements but essential safeguards that could save lives during emergencies.
The association also called on apartment residents to ensure that emergency alarm systems on their respective floors are functioning properly and to report any malfunction immediately to building management and the relevant authorities.
Members of the public facing unresolved safety issues may also lodge complaints with PPS for assistance in forwarding the matter to the relevant authorities by contacting 017 710 9299.
