KUANTAN: The Pahang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has not ruled out the possibility that a fire which razed in the Padang Lalang industrial area here was done intentionally and that an element of sabotage was present.
The 4.40am incident on September 11 saw 95 percent of a row of terrace buildings used as five workshop premises destroyed.
Pahang JBPM director, Wan Mohd Zaidi Wan Isa said investigation carried out by the department found that there was an element of sabotage or arson perpetrated by certain quarters.
He said the probe conducted from all angles found that the fire could have been started intentionally instead of it being caused by an electrical short-circuit.
"We have submitted the investigation report on the fire incident to the Police for them to conduct further investigation.
"In the incident, 16 vehicles of various types, including two forklifts, were destroyed in the fire. Also destroyed were various equipment, including Telekom Malaysia (TM) Berhad cables and several electrical power engine units owned by TM's contractor company, "he said, here today.
He added that on Aug 27, a row of eight vehicles and heavy machinery workshop premises in the same area were also destroyed by fire. The incident at about 5am caused ten vehicles, including cars and bulldozers, to be destroyed.
Wan Mohd Zaidi said, the investigation report of two fire cases in the Padang Lalang industrial area has been completed and has been submitted to the authorities for action to be taken.
He said, JBPM Pahang will give full cooperation to the authorities involved in investigating the fire cases.
He is confident that the case can be resolved in the near future.
"JBPM Pahang pays serious attention in investigating the cause of fires that occur in the state. The expertise of JBPM Pahang forensic team members should not be disputed," he said.