LETTER | The recent fire at the Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) in Johor Bahru, the latest of several recurring fires at that medical facility over the years, will soon disappear from public discourse and concern. Believe me.

What we fail to realise again is that it's not just this hospital that is at risk. All public hospitals nationwide are likely at huge risk too. The building safety standards of all public buildings including hospitals are highly questionable.

The widely-held belief is that the conditions of many such buildings are not only sordid but these structures also suffer perennially from a lack of government funds.

An academic from University Sains Malaysia has gallantly called for a comprehensive fire safety plan to be drawn up for all hospitals which will take into account the hospitals’ wiring, building design, and oxygen supply system...