Fire and Rescue Services Department director-general Hamdan Wahid has denied that clearance was given for barbed and razor wires to be set up along a public housing staircase at Block C, PPR Kampung Baru Air Panas, Kuala Lumpur.

"Who gave an approval? We never gave any approval.

"Blocking any means of escape for the purposes of an emergency in any premises is against fire safety regulations and the Uniform Building By-Laws," said Hamdan when contacted yesterday.