KUALA LUMPUR, 31 May 2009: The government proposes to review the guidelines on demolishing buildings to ensure that they are clearer and are observed by all the parties concerned.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today the improvements would depend on the report from the Housing and Local Government Ministry and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on the cause of the collapse of the former Jaya Supermarket building in Section 14, Petaling Jaya, on 28 May.
“I’m waiting for the full report from (minister) Datuk Kong Cho Ha and the local authority to determine whether or not the current regulations are adequate,” he told reporters sending off Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to South Korea at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang near here.
He said that if the guidelines were not adequate the ministry could submit proposals for improvement to the cabinet for consideration to come up with clearer guidelines.
The MBPJ has denied allegations that the building collapse was due, among others, to the failure of the MBPJ to monitor the demolition works and the failure to observe the safety aspects and guidelines.
Meanwhile in IPOH, Kong said a report on the building collapse will be presented at the cabinet meeting next week.
He said a decision on whether to form committee to investigate the tragedy would be made after the cabinet has studied a report on the search and rescue operation by the Fire & Rescue Department.
“Firemen are still monitoring the site of the former Jaya Supermarket building before it is taken over by the Petaling Jaya City Council, Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB),” he said after launching a road safety campaign for students here today. — Bernama
