A 48-year-old Malaysian man who lived alone was found dead inside his apartment near Bukit Jalil, with his body believed to have remained undiscovered for several days.
What has raised concerns, however, is what reportedly happened before the man was found.
According to “Uncle Kentang” Kuan Chee Heng, both family members and emergency responders were allegedly stopped by condominium security personnel from entering the premises several times. Firefighters were eventually allowed in at around 8.44pm, after reportedly sounding their siren and saying they would break through the entrance barrier.
When they finally reached the unit, the man was already dead and his body had begun to decompose. He is believed to have suffered a suspected heart attack.
Family had been looking for him for days
The situation came to light after the man’s brother-in-law was reported missing from contact for about four days.
The man was also supposed to collect mooncakes he had pre-ordered but failed to show up, prompting concern from a regular donor who contributes RM10 a month to Kuan’s charity efforts. The donor contacted Kuan for help and provided the man’s vehicle number and possible locations. Kuan then arranged for people to search for him and contacted the Fire and Rescue Department.
However, he claimed their attempts to enter the condominium were repeatedly blocked by security personnel, who told them to wait until the management office opened. Even after an ambulance arrived, they were allegedly asked to wait for the police.
Kuan said firefighters were also initially prevented from entering, despite the emergency nature of the situation.
Calls for clearer emergency procedures
Kuan said the incident highlights the need for condominium managements to have clear emergency procedures in place. He questioned whether emergency vehicles should have to wait for police before being allowed into a residential property.
“If ambulances and fire engines have to wait for the police to arrive before they can enter, valuable time could be lost during an actual emergency,” he said.
As the man lived alone, there was no one inside the unit who could immediately raise the alarm, leaving his death unnoticed until people outside began looking for him.
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