Zuraida: High-rise specs to be reviewed
Housing and Local Government Ministry is prepared to review the structure and safety features of high-rise buildings to prevent accidents, such as children falling from them.
Its minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin, said the construction of highrise buildings had met the Uniform Building By-Law (UKBS).
However, the ministry would improve the provisions if necessary.
“UKBS has stipulated that every balcony must have a railing that is at least one metre in height.
“In terms of specification and structure, safety features already exist. We have to determine whether to build them (railings) higher. I do not want our houses to become like prisons with high railings.
“However, we will investigate and see how this structure can be upgraded, reviewed and have its specifications changed.”
She was responding to a supplementary question by Fong Kui Lun (PH-Bukit Bintang) on the installation of fences in high-rise buildings to prevent children falling from them during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
On Sept 13, a 4-year-old girl died after falling from the balcony of her home on the 17th floor of the People’s Housing Project in Kota Damansara, Selangor.
Zuraida said the ministry would conduct regular supervision of high-rise buildings to ensure they were safe.
Earlier, in a reply to a question from Alice Lau (PH-Lanang) on iScada Net Sdn Bhd, which was the sole company to install the Automatic Fire Monitoring System (SPKA), Zuraida said the company had submitted the best tender.