KUALA LUMPUR: The recent fire at three factories in Alam Jaya Industrial Park, Puncak Alam, on Saturday night has sparked urgent concerns among residents about the lack of emergency services in the area.
The fire highlighted the vulnerability of Puncak Alam's community, particularly given its rapid expansion and growing population.
Permuafakatan Persatuan Penduduk Puncak Alam chairman Mohd Hanif Md Sultan said the residents have been calling for the establishment of both a police station and a fire station in the township for years.
He said the township, now home to around 200,000 people, has seen significant development yet lacks these essential services that are critical to ensuring the safety and security of its residents.
"Since 2018, residents have been advocating for the construction of a police and fire station, but despite our repeated calls, no progress has been made. With the population now reaching around 200,000 and development continuing at a rapid pace, the need for a proper emergency response infrastructure is more urgent than ever," Hanif said when contacted.
The fire at the industrial park, which required a large-scale response from fire departments across several areas, namely Bestari Jaya, Sungai Buloh, Kapar, Bukit Jelutong, Petaling Jaya, Damansara, and Batu Arang has only intensified the fears of residents.
Hanif said without a police station and a fire station, Puncak Alam remains ill-equipped to handle emergencies, especially those that could quickly escalate into disasters.
"We're not here to place blame on anyone; we are simply asking for the necessary infrastructure to be put in place in Puncak Alam, a place that is home to many high-ranking government and private sector officials.
"The township is developing rapidly, but it deserves more attention when it comes to public safety. A fire station is particularly vital, as it could prevent smaller incidents from snowballing into much larger catastrophes."
Hanif said the residents also expressed frustration over the lack of progress despite assurances that land for both the police and fire stations has already been allocated.
"We've been told that land is available, but the question remains; when will it happen? There has been no progress so far.
"We are hoping that our long-standing requests will finally be heard and acted upon," he said.
At present, the nearest fire station is in Bestari Jaya.
A resident in Puncak Alam, Shahrin Saharoodin, 42,said that the lack of a fire station is just one of many pressing issues in the area.
"The lack of police presence has contributed to a rise in social problems, with one of the most troubling being the lack of supervision for children. This is directly tied to the ongoing traffic issues in Puncak Alam, where parents have no choice but to leave as early as 6am to get to work and only return after 8pm.
"Because of these long hours, there's often no one home to monitor their kids. As a result, you'll see children, some as young as 11, riding motorcycles without helmets, happily zooming around with no one to stop them," said a father of two boys aged 13 and eight.
Shahrin, a construction site manager who has lived in Puncak Alam for 12 years, believes that a local police station could help alleviate these problems.
"If there were a police station here, regular monitoring by officers, combined with more frequent roadblocks, could deter children from engaging in risky behavior."
Currently, the nearest police station is located either in Saujana Utama or Jeram, which means response times can be slow. This lack of local police presence has left many residents feeling vulnerable.
Shahrin's wife, Suraya Ali, also voiced her concerns about the overcrowding in local schools and the inadequacy of public healthcare facilities in Puncak Alam.
"The schools here are overcrowded. For Standard One alone, there are classes with more than 40 pupils. That's why I chose private school for my son for his secondary school, but not everyone can afford that. Those who can't have to make do with the overcrowded public schools.
"We urgently need more schools to accommodate the growing population, and this issue must be addressed immediately."
In addition to the educational strain, she highlighted the need for better healthcare services in the township.
"Currently, there is only a small clinic (Klinik Ibu dan Anak), which was originally a house that was converted into a clinic. It's not a proper health clinic like we would expect in an area with such a large population," she said.