Call to probe Uptown stall fire

Charred remains: About 20 stalls were destroyed in a blaze at Uptown Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

PETALING JAYA: The blaze that destroyed about 20 stalls in Uptown Kota Damansara here should serve as a lesson in safety for all authorities and business owners, says Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

“If the stalls were licensed by local authorities, then the investigation must focus on identifying the potential safety issues that had been overlooked during the approval process.

“If they were not licensed, the authorities must investigate how to improve existing enforcement measures,” he said.

Video clips of the fire, which happened on Monday night, show trains passing on the tracks right above the fire as the flames engulfed one stall after another.

Lee said the blaze could have been much worse due to its proximity to the tracks of the MRT Kajang Line.

“While the tracks themselves would have been fine, the trains passing through them could have been put at serious risk had the fire been bigger.

“The flames could have potentially spread to a train as it passed by, which would not only disrupt the MRT service but also endanger the lives of the passengers,” he said.

A spokesperson from the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department said a distress call regarding the fire was received at 8.34pm that night.

There were no casualties and the fire was brought under control around 9pm.