Unsafe to live in tiny 'partitioned' cubicles, says property expert

Name: Unsafe to live in tiny 'partitioned' cubicles, says property expert
Uploaded: 2023-12-04T23:15:49+00:00
Duration: 2 min 55 s
Channel: Free Malaysia Today

Free Malaysia Today

last year

Center for Market Education fellow Dr Tan Consilz says ‘grave-like’ rooms do not comply with fire safety rules or health regulations.

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Transcript

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00:00 Kuala Lumpur's skyline is littered with some magnificent skyscrapers, but a stark new reality

00:06 has been uncovered hidden among them. Rising rental rates have forced many Malaysians to

00:11 rent capsule-sized rooms on the upper floors of shop lots in the city. The problem is that

00:16 these partitioned rooms are just big enough to fit a single-size mattress. The living

00:22 environment is less than ideal. It is small, cramped, dirty, enclosed, uncomfortable, and

00:28 amidst an unbearable stench. And these illegal premises have caught the attention of local

00:33 government development minister Ngah Kuo Ming. Ngah recently led an operation that raided

00:38 a shophouse in Taman Maluri, Cheras to find it had been renovated to house 38 of these

00:43 tiny rooms illegally.

00:45 [Speaking Mandarin]

01:01 And Ngah is right. Lawyer Bastion Pius Vandargan says that our prestigious building owners

01:07 must follow before making changes to their inner layout of their properties.

01:11 From what we see, there doesn't seem to have been any kind of approval, but I can't

01:15 see how approval could have even been given if there had been an application for planning

01:20 permission.

01:21 Apart from being illegal, these premises pose multiple safety risks.

01:26 First of all, it is a fire hazard. These rooms do not have an escape route. There are no

01:31 living rooms. The cramped space and feelings of being trapped will increase stress levels

01:36 and anxiety.

01:37 But those who do turn to these rooms often have no other choice and are desperate for

01:42 a roof over their heads. Rent for a single bedroom in Kuala Lumpur these days typically

01:46 ranges between RM800 to RM2000 per month. That makes the rental rate for these capsule-sized

01:52 rooms, which can be as low as RM300 per month, for want of a better word, attractive to some.

01:59 Living costs in big cities can be suffocating and I can understand why they have to reside

02:04 in these tiny rooms to juggle heavy living expenses.

02:08 And when there are desperate people, there will always be someone to take advantage of

02:12 this situation.

02:13 At the end of the day, it's just basically pure greed, not taking into consideration

02:18 human factor as well as safety factor.

02:21 So whose responsibility is it to hold these landlords accountable? Experts point to the

02:26 local government.

02:27 All local councils should in fact look into this area about ensuring that everybody toe

02:32 the line.

02:33 If it was brought to the attention of the local authority, if they could enforce them

02:37 the unit, they could have taken action.

02:41 But should the authorities also help ensure there is proper and reasonably priced alternative

02:46 accommodation for the unfortunate dwellers of these makeshift units?

02:49 Natasha Bust and Tan Chintung, FMT News.

Unsafe to live in tiny 'partitioned' cubicles, says property expert

Transcript

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