KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 — The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has conducted 1,172 inspections of childcare centres nationwide as of October, with 373 notices issued to premises that failed to comply with safety regulations.
Housing and Local Government (KPKT) Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said that for private primary and secondary educational institutions, 234 inspections were carried out during the same period, with 41 notices issued.
"The ministry, through JBPM, will implement enforcement through activities to eliminate fire hazards on premises, on a scheduled basis.
"This is to ensure that the premises always comply with the conditions set and do not make any modifications to the premises that were approved for the original plan," she said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.
Athirah was responding to Senator Prof Emeritus Datuk Mohammad Redzuan Othman's query on steps to ensure that daycare centres and private primary and secondary education institutions for children, which often operate in business complexes and shophouses, comply with safety regulations.
She added that KPKT strongly supports the involvement of various stakeholders in driving the development of the private education sector by simplifying the process for approving business premises licenses, while ensuring safety and compliance with applicable laws.
Among the safety requirements that must be complied with are the installation of a fire safety system, the provision of at least two exits, including doors and exit stairs, the construction of separation walls, the placement of fire extinguishers in easily visible exits, limits on cooking activities, and the installation of self-contained smoke detectors.
“In 2024, a total of 1,208 business premises licenses were approved by all local authorities. During that period, they carried out 723 monitoring and enforcement operations to ensure compliance with the conditions of the premises license approval, issuing 61 compounds and eight notices to license owners.
“Meanwhile, in 2025, a total of 1,737 licenses were approved, with 472 monitoring and enforcement operations carried out, which led to the issuance of 96 compounds and 23 notices,” Athirah said.
