‘SUKE VICTIMS’ KIN CAN GET SOCSO AID’
Beneficiaries will get payment if employers have made contributions, says CEO
THE three foreign workers who died in Monday’s gantry crane collapse at the Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) construction site in Cheras here are eligible for Social Security Organisation (Socso) Employment Injury Scheme benefits.
Socso chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohamad said the beneficiaries were eligible to receive the payment if their employers had made contributions to Socso.
“We will process and identify the victims’ beneficiaries. Those usually named are spouses, parents or children,” he said at the Penaja Kerjaya mini carnival for those with special needs at Wisma Perkeso here yesterday.
Azman said the benefits were in line with the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 and the Employees’ Social Security (General) Regulations 1971.
“If the accident happened at work or workers had just ended their shift, the beneficiaries will
be entitled to the payment.”
The government had made it compulsory for all employers to register foreign workers under the Employment Injury Scheme by Socso starting Jan 1 last year.
Prior to that, foreign workers were protected under the Foreign Workers’ Compensation Scheme.
In the Monday incident, a gantry crane collapsed at the construction site near Puncak Banyan, Persiaran Alam Damai, Cheras, killing three foreign workers and leaving one road user seriously injured.
The Works Ministry issued a stop-work order for the project, while the Construction Industry Development Board had launched an investigation into the incident.
Azman said the Socso Prihatin Squad would identify the victims’ next of kin named as beneficiaries. He said a similar process had been done earlier this month when an accident, which also happened along the SUKE construction area, caused a structure collapse that killed two people.
“When we were informed of the accident, the beneficiaries were not required to find us. Instead, a team in Kuala Lumpur had begun identifying the next of kin.
“One of the victim’s mother was named as a beneficiary and has received the payment from Socso.”
Earlier, the body of the last victim trapped underneath the gantry crane was retrieved on Monday morning.
Projek Lintasan Sungai BesiUlu Klang Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) said it would focus on removing the gantry crane structure and repair works at the site.
“The removal and repair process is a complex one and will take a few days due to safety concerns involving workers at the construction site and nearby residents. These include ensuring the highway structure remains intact, in addition to efforts to remove the extremely heavy gantry crane. It has to be broken up into smaller parts before it can be brought down.
“For the safety of residents, especially those living at the Puncak Banyan condominium, an alternative road has been paved since the first day of the incident and has been opened for users.
“The diversion and temporary closure of a part of the Persiaran Alam Damai road in both directions will serve as the entry and exit access points with immediate effect, until repair works are completed.
“Users from the Jalan Lingkaran Tengah Dua (MRR2) direction heading for Alam Damai will be diverted to Jalan Cerdas (Pasar Malam Taman Connaught) to exit at Jalan Alam Damai near OCBC Bank.”
Prolintas said only those staying near the road closure area, such as at Mandarina, Puncak Banyan Condominium, Altitude 236 and other residents involved would be allowed to use the road.
Traffic police, safety cones as well as direction and warning signs had been placed in the lanes involved, it added.
SUKE advised road users to adhere to the road signs, speed limit, safety measures and instructions from staff.
Road users were encouraged to use the suggested alternative lanes to avoid congestion.
Prolintas thanked the rescue team involved in the operation and apologised for all the inconvenience caused.