KL rooftops hide 27 illegal rooms, fire dept calls them 'death traps'
Access to the area was heavily controlled through CCTV monitoring, locked iron gates and dim stairwells accessible only to selected individuals.
KUALA LUMPUR – What should have remained a rooftop safety space has instead been transformed into tightly packed illegal living quarters, with authorities uncovering 27 makeshift rooms built without approval in several buildings around Jalan Tun H S Lee.
The discovery came during Op Sarang Burung, jointly carried out by the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department together with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and police, involving inspections at three separate premises in the city centre.
Inspection teams began operations around 10am, where they found that the illegal structures had been constructed on rooftops of three to four-storey buildings, with access heavily controlled through CCTV monitoring, locked iron gates and dim stairwells accessible only to selected individuals.
Fire officers later confirmed to Sinar, who was given the opportunity to join the operation, that new rooms were being constructed and modified at rooftop level, including the installation of toilet facilities in the area.
Fire and Rescue Department Fire Safety Division Director Datuk Norazam Khamis described the situation as highly dangerous, saying enforcement action had already been taken.
“The modus operandi of this illegal construction is the same, namely built without approval from DBKL in particular.
“We detected that the rooftop structures are unsuitable and seizure action has been taken against three premises, with notices issued to the owners for demolition action to be taken within seven days.
“If they fail to do so, DBKL will take action against the illegal structures,” he said.
Authorities revealed that the three premises contained 27 small rooms converted into accommodation, with each unit housing multiple occupants, most of whom were foreign nationals. Some units were also used for cooking, significantly increasing fire risk.
Norazam further warned that the structures, built using flammable materials such as plywood and timber, posed a serious safety threat.
“This is a death trap because the building materials used are highly flammable such as plywood and wood-based materials.
“The room sizes are estimated between 6x4 and 10x10 square feet and most of the occupants are foreign nationals,” he said.
He added that unapproved modifications not compliant with fire safety standards could severely hinder rescue efforts and increase the likelihood of fatalities during emergencies.
The case is being acted upon under Section 8 of the Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341).
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