Well, this is certainly shocking!
It was recently reported that five vehicles parked at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) in Kuala Kangsar were severely damaged in a fire on Tuesday (February 6) at around 2.36am.
According to China Press, the incident happened right at JPJ’s office in Kuala Kangsar, Perak and went up in a blaze in the wee hours of the morning. Out of the five vehicles involved, three of them belonged to JPJ and two of the vehicles belonged to members of the public.
The three damaged JPJ vehicles are two Toyota Fortuner cars and one Ford Ranger which was 90 per cent damaged due to the fire. The other two Volvo models sustained 70 per cent damage before the fire department managed to put out the fire. Looks like all of them are goners now!
Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Operations chief Aziz Md Nor said that they received the call in the wee hours of the morning and dispatched a team of firemen to the scene. It took about 15 minutes for them to control the fire and the operation ended at 3.46am.
While there were thankfully no casualties reported, they suspect that it is an arson attack. Apparently, they discovered that the fencing near the parking lot showed signs of being tampered with as they found a hole in the fence. It looks like it was purposely cut open and there were forced signs of entry.
Although there was a security booth near the parking lot, it was located about 30 feet away and when the guards spotted the fire, it was already too late to save the vehicles. An update on the incident from MMO stated that this is a confirmed arson attack, according to the police.
Kuala Kangsar district police chief assistant commissioner Ahmad Termizi Abd Haq said, “The suspects must have planned this, they gained entry into the department’s car park by cutting through the fence and setting the vehicles ablaze.”
In interviews with some of the JPJ officers, it looks like there were a few individuals who were dissatisfied with the department’s enforcement work. CCTV cameras around the area also did not cover the car park, and the police are still trying to find evidence.
The case is currently investigated under Section 436 of the Penal Code for causing mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy a house. Two of the Volvos that were destroyed in the fire were a cloned car and a ‘kereta potong’ (cut-and-joined car).
Luckily no one was hurt in the fire!
Also read: “My Grandpa, Grandma and Two Brothers Were Killed and Set on Fire”