The department’s deputy director-general of development Ahmad Izram Osman said the proposed council would serve as a platform to share knowledge and best practices related to fire safety.

“Supertall buildings are structures with heights exceeding 300 metres. There are six supertall buildings in Malaysia, namely KL Tower, the Petronas Twin Towers, TRX Exchange, Menara Merdeka 118, Four Seasons Place and Menara TM, making the establishment of a Malaysian supertall building council very significant,” he said in his keynote address at a seminar in Kuala Lumpur today.

Izram stressed that ensuring fire safety was a collective responsibility involving all parties engaged in building management and operations and not just the authorities, Bernama reported.

“This council will provide training, education, prevention and public awareness programmes to prepare for emergencies. It also facilitates the exchange of information and ideas concerning fire safety matters.

It will also enable collaboration and interaction with the department in various aspects including building plans, fire certificates, and licensing.

Izram said the idea for the council was first raised at the housing and local government ministry’s retreat earlier this month.

Meanwhile, the one-day seminar was held to disseminate the latest information, including recent amendments to fire safety laws and fire service regulations.

The event saw the participation of 20 exhibitors and over 930 attendees, including representatives from premises such as hotels, office buildings and stadiums.