LETTER | Strict enforcement needed on unregistered care centres in PJ

LETTER | We refer to Bernama’s news article ‘Woman killed in pre-dawn fire at PJ old folks home’ dated Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023.

We wish to first and foremost extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost their loved one in the fire.

The premises mentioned in the article is one of many care centres located in Section 5, Petaling Jaya, and is located just a stone’s throw away from the old EPF Building on Jalan Gasing which caught fire two months ago while being repurposed as a multi-storey senior living facility.

There are doubts as to whether the premises in question has been duly approved for use as a care centre. 

The Residents’ Association Section 5 Petaling Jaya (RA5PJ) is aware of official complaints and enquiries which have been made repeatedly to the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) since September 2022, asking for inspections to be made at these premises to confirm if they are duly licensed and approved to operate.

Sadly, no answer has been received on the registration status and no action seems to have been taken to date.

We recognise the much-needed service senior care facilities provide to the elderly and families who are no longer able to take care of them. However, there is an obligation on the part of the operators of such homes to provide quality care for their residents, comply with all applicable laws and be responsible neighbours when operating a business in a residential area.

Under the Care Centres Act 1993, it is mandatory for every care centre in Malaysia to be registered.

Any person who operates or takes part in the management of a care centre that is not registered shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both, and in the case of a continuing offence, shall, in addition, be liable to a daily fine not exceeding RM1,000 for every day during which the offence continues

Being registered involves having the premises inspected and certified as safe by the Fire Department. From the municipal side, residential buildings being converted for use for business purposes need approval.

But where is the enforcement? Why are so many care centres allowed to operate without registration and without the attendant safeguards that are already provided in the law?

We wish to express our utmost concern over this state of affairs. Unregistered centres which are allowed to operate without the necessary certification pose a serious risk to the residents of these homes as well as to the neighbours.

There is an urgent need for all unregistered care centres in Petaling Jaya to be identified and the law duly enforced. Allowing these unregistered care centres to continue to operate is simply inviting another tragedy to occur.

Similarly, we also call for strict enforcement of the law on all businesses operating in residential zones, especially where it involves the safety of residents nearby. MBPJ must act quickly on such complaints and escalate the matter swiftly to the relevant agencies if necessary. 

Any grace period given before enforcement must not be indefinite but for a specific period. For example, six months, with notice to surrounding neighbours so that they are aware of any clear and present danger. Business operators should not be allowed to put neighbouring residents at risk just so they can save costs.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.