KUANTAN: The shop house along Jalan Bukit Ubi here where an Indian national perished in a fire early today were believed to have been illegally modified and partitioned into small rooms. State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Abdul Rahim Muda said the upper floor of the three-storey premises that caught fire at 12.53am had more than 25 occupants. He said there were more than 20 rooms on that floor which is believed to have been rented out to tenants both locals and foreigners. "Such units should not have a huge number of occupants and the rooms renovated for rental purposes pose a danger during an emergency. The building modification might not have met standards set by the local authorities and Fire and Rescue Department.

Source: New Strait Times January 23, 2020 06:33 UTC