SHAH ALAM, March 27 — Selangor's local authorities in Selangor have been instructed to review standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to the sale of firecrackers, including licensing, sales volume, and permitted locations, to minimise the risk of accidents.
State executive councillor for local government and tourism Dato' Ng Suee Lim said tightening SOPs and safety measures is necessary to ensure public safety while allowing Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations to take place in a safe environment without accidents.
“The state government views seriously incidents of firecracker-related fires that have led to accidents, including at storage sites and elsewhere, caused by negligence, carelessness, and disregard for safety factors.
“Therefore, I have asked all local authorities to review all SOPs concerning firecracker sales, including licences to be issued, quantities, and locations, so that we can reassess and tighten SOPs as well as safety measures.
“At the upcoming Local Government Standing Committee's meeting, we will discuss safety and the tightening of SOPs so that we remain vigilant. If possible, we want to avoid and minimise such accident-related incidents,” he told Media Selangor.
Ng emphasised that the public must also use firecrackers in an orderly and cautious manner to avoid accidents.
“This is so that while we celebrate the festive season, we can prevent accidents and ensure safety is maintained. The use of firecrackers must therefore be done responsibly to avoid the possibility of incidents during their use,” he said.
Previously, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming instructed the Fire and Rescue Department and the Local Government Department to review the SOPs for temporary fireworks sales stalls nationwide to ensure that festive seasons are celebrated safely and without unwanted incidents.
This aims to ensure that every trader operates responsibly and that the safety of the surrounding community is prioritised.
Among other things, the guidelines emphasise maintaining appropriate safety distances between stalls and reassessing locations to ensure they are not too close to permanent structures or residential areas.
Fire incidents involving fireworks stalls have been reported in several locations. On Sunday (March 22) morning, a stall selling various types of firecrackers in Taman Pekaka, George Town, Penang, was destroyed, damaging a motorcycle and three residential air-conditioning units nearby.
On Monday (March 23), a similar fire occurred at Majidee Corner 1C along Jalan Bunga Ros in Johor Bahru, destroying a firecracker stall, a Proton Gen-2 car, and a food truck.
On Tuesday (March 24), a fire at a firecracker premises in Wakaf Che Yeh, Kelantan was reported, with fire forensics identifying the cause as a short circuit due to an electrical wiring connection from a food premises to decorative lights at the firecracker sales tent.
Last month, an apartment unit at Residensi Adelia in Persiaran Bangi Avenue, Kajang, was nearly destroyed in a fire, and the police determined that inspections found explosive materials (firecrackers) throughout the house, not only in the main room where the fire started.
