ALOR STAR: The Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) today urged all owners and occupants of private, commercial and public buildings to immediately check on the safety of their buildings.
In a statement, PAM said the conditions of the properties may be a ticking time bomb and if left unattended, “can cause injury or the loss of lives of your loved ones, employees, tenants and customers”.
“We must have courage, no matter how unpopular or difficult, to change the current mindset that the homes we live in, the places we work, schools we send our children, public places we use, be accorded uncompromising standards of safety.
“The best building designs by architects and engineers will quickly and surely deteriorate if we do not improve our maintenance culture,” PAM said.
This call comes on the back of the fire that broke out at the intensive care unit of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor, which resulted in six deaths and several others injured.
The organisation also extended its condolences to the families of the six who died, and wished a quick recovery to the injured.
“It is indeed a tragedy that six lives were lost, many more injured and traumatised due to the fire yesterday.
“We pray for the perished and offer our condolences to their families, and quick recovery to the injured,” the statement read.