Hospital overcrowding makes it difficult for much needed maintenance to be carried out, said Skudai assemblyperson Dr Boo Cheng Hau.

This is especially so at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) in Johor Baru, where a fire on Oct 25 killed six and injured others while another short-circuit incident the next day injured three more, he said.

A ward at Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Ipoh was also evacuated late Wednesday after sparks were spotted at an electrical socket behind a patient's bed.