Only one of the 12 government hospitals in the state has a Fire Certificate, said Chairman of the Johor Health and Environment Committee, Datuk Ayub Rahmat.

He said the Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital in Kluang obtained the certificate in 2012 but it has to be renewed every year, in line with the Fire and Rescue Act 1988.

He said six other hospitals, namely the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA), the Sultan Ismail Hospital and the Permai Hospital in Johor Bahru; the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital, Batu Pahat; Kota Tinggi Hospital and the Mersing Hospital were in the process of getting the certificate.

Eight other hospitals, namely the Segamat Hospital; the Pontian Hospital; the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in Muar and the Tangkak Hospital did not need to apply for the certificates as they were not included in the category set by the act.

"All the applications were made since 2007. Taking the HSA as an example, we did it in stages beginning 2007, 2007, 2008 and 2012, depending on the building blocks which had been completed," he told a press conference after the question-and-answer session in the State Assembly here today.

Ayub said the FCs would enable the fire department to conduct scheduled safety checks each year to ensure that the wiring system, electric equipment and other aspects in the hospital were in good condition.

Earlier, when replying to questions from six assemblymen from BN and DAP on the fire at HSA, Ayub said it was not caused by sabotage or intentionally.

However, investigations covering various aspects had been carried out to identify the actual cause of the fire.

He also said under the Health Ministry, the HSA had two committees which monitored the safety aspects - the Work Safety and Health Committee, as well as the Fire Committee.

Through these committees, the HSA had an internal contingency plan to tackle any incidences on the hospital premises such as one disrupting electricity and water supply, as well as fire, he said.

Since last year, six fire drills had been carried out, involving 365 hospital staff. - BERNAMA