KUANTAN: The shop house along Jalan Bukit Ubi here where an Indian national perished in a fire early today were believed to have been illegally modified and partitioned into small rooms.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Abdul Rahim Muda said the upper floor of the three-storey premises that caught fire at 12.53am had more than 25 occupants.
He said there were more than 20 rooms on that floor which is believed to have been rented out to tenants both locals and foreigners.
"Such units should not have a huge number of occupants and the rooms renovated for rental purposes pose a danger during an emergency. The building modification might not have met standards set by the local authorities and Fire and Rescue Department.
"Checks revealed there was plywood partition in the premises. The Kuantan Municipal Council has been instructed to ensure shop owners do not carry out illegal renovation on the upper floors of their premises for rental purposes," he told reporters after visiting the fire scene here today.
Read more of the incident here.
Meanwhile, Rahim urged building owners to adhere to the law and not modify their premises illegally as it might pose a threat when occupants are trapped in case of a fire.
"There might not be proper fire-fighting equipment. Any renovation has to get the approval from the local authorities and Fire and Rescue department.
"The rental rate might be low and many might choose it as an alternative due to its location in the middle of town but people have to realise that such living conditions are not safe," he said.
Meanwhile, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Ismail Abd Ghani said firemen who were deployed to the scene had knocked on the room doors and instructed the occupants to leave the burning building.
He said the premises had three exits and none of the grill doors were chained or locked.
"Once the fire was doused, we found the victim on the third floor. He might have attempted to escape but thick smoke or flames could have prevented him from coming down," he said, adding that the cause of fire and losses are still being investigated.
Checks revealed Manikandan was hired as a restaurant helper at premises nearby.