KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 — The escalator breakdown at the Pandan Kapital shopping mall in Pandan Indah, Ampang on Tuesday was the latest in a series of woes to besiege tenants over the years.

Cosmetics saleswoman Nurjaida Salam, 50, said she was manning her stall when there was a loud sound just after 2pm.

"There was very loud and felt like an earthquake. It was followed by a sequence of crashes, occurring at least nine times before it stopped,” she said.

When the ‘explosion’ occurred, the metal plating on top came off and caused the mechanism to accelerate, forcing the escalator’s stairs to pile up on top of one another until someone pressed the stop button.

"It is an old escalator. It did not operate properly. Sometimes one hand belt will move while the other didn’t. Although there was no smoke or fire, I am thankful no one was on it when the incident occurred,” she said.

Moneychanger Nasir Yahya, 26, who had his outlet, located beneath the escalator, said when he heard the loud sound and rushed out.

"I came out in time to see the stairs coming off. I was told that someone had just got off the escalator before malfunctioned.

"The escalator has been the same since the mall opened 20 years ago. Unlike newer models (with safety features) this one will continue to operate even if someone were to get stuck in its mechanism. And this is not the first time this has occurred,” he said.

Nasir was referring to an earlier incident involving the same escalator’s lower metal plating that took place on June 25. He said it was less severe than last week’s incident as only three plates came loose.

These incidents were not the only ones involving the escalator. Cellphone salesman Aston Chin, 22, said another incident occurred last year.

"My girlfriend was accompanying her 75-year old grandmother on the escalator. Due to her age she has one hand on the belt while clutching her walking stick with the other. 

"Suddenly, one of its belts stopped working, she lost her balance and was caught just in time by her grandchild,” he said, adding that the grandmother sustained injuries which required a month to recover.

Malay Mail also met several shopkeepers who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Several months ago I wanted to exit from the mall through the rear glass door. I did not realise it was broken, until I cut myself when I tried to it push open. There was no warning sign anywhere,” said one shopkeeper based on the second floor. 

"Many of the mall’s patrons come here because most of us have been established here for many years. I do not know how long this can go on before someone gets hurt or worse,” he said.

Another tenant said he and several other tenants had approached the management company on numerous occasions, urging them to fix the mall’s numerous problems.

"The ceilings of some tenants lots leak. When the ceiling boards are softened by the moisture, it collapses. Fortunately no one has been injured thus far.

"Several months ago one of the sewage pipes in the parking lot burst and flooded the entire area, damaging several cars besides causing a terrible stink.

"Last year, a child attempted to push a trolley onto one of the flat escalators next to the Giant supermarket.

"The child lost his balance and tripped, causing part of his clothes and hair to be stuck in its mechanism. 

"A passerby, alerted by the family’s cries for help, quickly managed to press the stop button,” said the 44-year old, adding that the child sustained no injuries and was rescued by cutting part of his clothes and hair.

Some of the tenants who have been with the mall since it opened in September 1996, said the management only responded to their demands by saying it had insufficient funds to do proper maintenance. 

"Luck has been on our side, but I fear it will run out when someone gets hurt or worse,” he said.