Malaysian landlords face fines for 'coffin rooms'

Nga Kor Ming, the Malaysian Minister of Housing and Local Government, said his department would work with relevant parties to investigate those involved in the issue, reported The Straits Times.

Some of the rented rooms are narrow and small, with no proper ventilation or windows, which might lead to health and fire risks.

Malaysian authorities have announced that they will take legal action against landlords for renting out "coffin rooms." Photo illustration by Freepik

Actions imposed on these properties' owners cab range from fines for violations of health and fire protections requirements to property demolishing, with owners of the premises to pay the demolishing costs, said the minister.

Prior to this announcement, it is reported that 38 rooms at a two-story shop in the Klang Valley, each covering a span of 12-meter square and having no windows, were being rented out for 300-350 ringgits ($63-$74) a month, including electricity and water supply expenses.

Most tenants were reportedly university students, according to the Malaysian news site The Star.