10-3-2025 (KUALA LUMPUR) In a startling incident at one of Johor Bahru’s premier retail destinations, shoppers witnessed a dramatic ceiling collapse that has raised serious questions about building maintenance standards in Malaysian shopping centres.
The incident, which unfolded at KSL City Mall—a favourite amongst Singaporean visitors situated mere minutes from the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar checkpoint—fortunately resulted in no casualties, despite the heart-stopping moment that sent debris crashing onto several retail kiosks.
This structural failure, occurring between 18:00 and 19:00 on Saturday, comes in disturbing proximity to a similar incident in Kota Kinabalu just one day prior, where a 55-year-old woman sustained serious injuries from falling ceiling debris at a local shoplot.
Johor Bahru KSL Mall rooftop has collapsed.
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@my_shoppingmalls pic.twitter.com/1NhQJG0hly— Malaysia Shopping Mall (@MyShoppingMal) March 8, 2025
Eyewitness accounts paint a vivid picture of the terrifying sequence. A worker identified only as Ngui described an ominous progression of events: initial subtle noises evolved into visible cracks before culminating in a catastrophic collapse. Perhaps more concerningly, reports from a hair salon employee suggest this wasn’t an isolated incident, with a smaller-scale collapse allegedly occurring the previous weekend.
Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat of Johor Bahru South has confirmed that police investigations are underway, despite the absence of formal police reports. The affected area has since been cordoned off, with construction crews mobilised for immediate repairs.
The incident has sparked considerable social media attention, with viral videos capturing the aftermath of the collapse at this popular shopping destination. The event has prompted calls from both visitors and workers for enhanced building safety protocols and more rigorous maintenance schedules.
This structural failure at KSL City Mall, approximately a 10-minute journey from Singapore’s border, serves as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of building maintenance and safety standards in public spaces.
