Government to crack down on 'capsule-sized' room rental businesses

KUALA LUMPUR - The Local Government Development Ministry (KPKT) has ordered local authorities (PBT) across the country to conduct building inspections effective today to curb the "capsule-sized" room rental business, which increases the risk of fire.

According to Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming, inspections would be conducted comprehensively throughout the city, including in neighborhoods with apartments and flats, especially in the 20 cities where such businesses have been located.

"Today's unexpected operation sends a very obvious message to all stakeholders (that this rental room issue) is like an ice block where only the tip is visible on the surface of the water) where the issue is not going away anytime soon.

“This means that, from today, all local authorities will inspect buildings that have been determined to be at risk of fire," he stated.

He announced this at a press conference in Taman Maluri, Cheras, after carrying out a joint raid with the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on a business premises that leases out capsule-sized rooms to gain more profit.

On October 10, Sinar Harian reported the existence of rental capsules, which cost RM300 a month to rent despite only having room for one mattress.

The Klang Valley saw an increase in these cramped rental rooms that disregard safety and comfort factors, all because of the high cost of living there and the greedy nature of the homeowners who aim to maximise their profits.

Nga added that ongoing law enforcement and monitoring would also take place soon.

He said the premises involved committed many offenses in terms of the Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341) and the local councils act including in terms of fire risk.

“According to data on building fires in the nation from 2019 to August of last year, there were 43 occurrences of shop fires alone.

"During the same period, there were 13 fire cases involving hostels and boarding houses, so we don't want any more fire incidents like the fire at the Tahfiz Darul Quran Ifftifaqiyah Center in Jalan Keramat Hujung, Kuala Lumpur, which claimed 23 more lives," he said.

Therefore, he asked nearby residents and others to notify the fire department or the ministry if they knew of the existence of such small rental rooms in their communities.