The job of fighting fires is not limited to firemen, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Sri Ong Ka Ting said today.

It is the duty of residents in high-rise buildings to ensure that fire-fighting equipment in the buildings is functioning, Ong said after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and the Fire and Rescue Department.

“Residents and their associations should initiative efforts to check whether the fire fighting equipment is serviceable or not,” he said.

If it is not, the residents should inform the Fire Department, which will inspect and replace the items.

“The blocking of emergency exists with unnecessary items is an example of residents indifference about their own safety,” said Ong referring to last Sunday’s fire in Sentul flat that killed five people.

He also said the government has allocated RM10.6 million this year for new fire hydrants to replace those which are malfunctioning.