Nibong Tebal fireworks stall fire under probe, permit revoked

2026-03-23 - 05:30

A 15-second video of the incident, which went viral, shows sparks and fireworks flying into a nearby restaurant as its workers scrambled to pull down the shutters. PETALING JAYA: Police have launched an investigation into a fire involving a firecracker and fireworks stall at Taman Pekaka in Nibong Tebal yesterday, while the Seberang Perai city council has revoked the stall’s permit and stepped up safety monitoring for similar stalls. Penang police chief Azizee Ismail said five reports have been lodged on the incident, Bernama reported. He said the case is being investigated under Section 286 of the Penal Code for negligence involving explosive materials. The fire, which broke out at about 12.05am, destroyed the stall and damaged a motorcycle and three external air-conditioning units at a nearby house. No casualties were reported. A 15-second video of the incident has gone viral, showing sparks and fireworks flying into a nearby restaurant as its workers scrambled to pull down the shutters. Seberang Perai mayor Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid said the stall had a valid permit from Feb 19 to March 24, but the council revoked it immediately after the fire and is monitoring other similar stalls in the area. He said the council remains committed to ensuring public safety through stricter monitoring and enforcement. To prevent similar incidents, it will tighten permit conditions, including requiring fire extinguishers and insurance coverage, along with additional safety measures where necessary.