2,046 schools identified to have electrical wiring problems

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 2,046 schools throughout the country have been identified as having electrical wiring problems which is one of the causes of recent fires in schools.
Deputy Education Minister Senator Datuk Chong Sin Woon said these schools were more than 20 years old.
"Most of the fires which broke out did not start in the laboratories or because of inadequacies in safety measures like not having fire hazard doors, but they were mostly caused by short circuits.
"As such, the ministry is focusing on rewiring the electrical system in old schools, especially those in old buildings," he said at the Senate here today.
Chong was replying to a question from Senator Datuk Lihan Jok on the main causes of fires in several schools in Sarawak and what the government was doing to resolve the problem.
He said the electrical wiring would be implemented in stages beginning next year, with priority given to critical schools.
He added that in order to prevent fires, all schools would be equipped with fire extinguishers and the staff given training and exposure to fire prevention efforts. — Bernama