NIOSH seeks inquiry over stadium roof collapse (Updated 5.30pm)

Updated 5.30pm on 3 June 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, 3 June 2009: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) today urged the government to set up a commission of inquiry to probe the collapse of a section of the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium roof in Gong Badak, Terengganu.

Its chairperson, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said the incident was far too serious to be normally investigated, adding that it had also affected public confidence in the construction industry.

“It warrants a full-scale, thorough and independent investigation. Therefore, a commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act is needed to get to the bottom of the cause of the tragic and scandalous event,” he told Bernama when contacted.

Lee said the commission could determine who was liable for prosecution.

“The matter must be seriously addressed by the relevant authorities,” he said, adding that it was fortunate that nobody was injured in the incident.

A section of the roof of the RM300 million stadium collapsed yesterday. The stadium is part of the modern Gong Badak sports complex.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang called the collapse an inevitable consequence of a system that emphasised cronyism over skill.

In a media statement today, he questioned whether the “cronies responsible for the collapse of this stadium’s roof” just a year after its completion would be exposed and fully penalised.

The opposition Member of Parliament said the collapse was a warning sign of “the serious and quite terminal breakdown of standards, and benchmarks of excellence”.

“Far from realising Vision 2020 and becoming a developed nation, Malaysia risks entering the cycle of being a failed state,” he added.

Wanita MCA chairperson Chew Mei Fun called for the creation of a special bureau in charge of ensuring the safety of future construction projects.

Chew also urged the government to punish those responsible.

“The companies responsible for this debacle should be blacklisted. At the same time, the officials who are responsible for the project should take responsibility and resign,” Chew said in a statement today.

“The professional licenses of these companies involved should be summarily revoked,” she added.