For the sake of safety of the school children and their teachers, the old wiring must be replaced as soon as possible.
Statistics show that most of the 10,176 primary and secondary schools in the country were built in the 1960s and 70s, meaning they are around half a century old.
A lot of their equipment are now outdated, including the old wiring, so there should be no delay in the upgrading work.
According to the ministry’s own engineering criteria, the lifespan of electrical wiring is only about 20 years, and regular checks need to be conducted. However, to our shock, many of the schools are still using the same old wiring installed half a century ago.
Even as the education ministry has set the safety guideline, wiring checks have never been carried out strictly. Something very wrong might have happened somewhere. Could it be due to human negligence?
It is absolutely necessary for the authorities to find out the answers to these questions, and ensure that all engineering guidelines are strictly complied with.
As it entails the personal safety of the teachers and students, this matter must be taken very seriously.
The continued use of outdated wiring reflects the fact that the government has been grossly negligent over the maintenance of public buildings, and the lack of a comprehensive set of mechanisms governing the maintenance of buildings.
Repair and maintenance forms the core of preventive safety measures that should help prevent tragic incidents as a result of electrical wiring in disrepair. Additionally, repair and maintenance will also extend the life of a building’s equipment and fittings.
Prevention is far better than cure. Other than schools, the government must also be concerned about the maintenance of other public buildings and their equipment, in particular hospitals.
The recent Sultanah Aminah Hospital fire claimed six lives. While the actual cause of fire is still under investigation, from the outdated facilities in the decades-old building, we cannot rule out the possibility of faulty wiring being the culprit.
Worryingly, there are still plenty of old hospitals in this country that will continue to spark fears over safety aspects. It is imperative that the relevant authorities inspect the safety features and usability of the buildings and equipment under their jurisdiction and carry out the essential maintenance works as per the SOP requirement for the sake of public safety.
The government must learn a lesson from past accidents and treat the maintenance of public buildings seriously to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in the future.
Sin Chew Daily is a local vernacular publication
With a firm belief in freedom of expression and without prejudice, FMT tries its best to share reliable content from third parties. Such articles are strictly the writer’s (or organisation’s) personal opinion. FMT does not necessarily endorse the views or opinions given by any third party content provider.