Pay proper salaries to electrical professionals — MPCA
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Consumer Protction Association (MPCA) Sabah Chapter said electrical professionals and other workers task to carry out jobs on high voltage trouble shooting works deserved higher compensation based on the risk factor.
“Obviously, this particular group of skilled workers risk their lives when carrying out their respective responsibilities and deserve high salaries,” its Sabah chairman David Chan said in a statement yesterday.
David, who is also the managing director of Kosmojati Sdn Bhd, a local contractor providing high voltage overhead and underground cable services said the government and private employees should always consider the risk factor of these workers by compensating them accordingly.
The managing director was reacting to the Wenesday night incident where five SESB trouble shooter suffered between 20-90 per cent burns on their bodies after the substation at Warisan Plaza in Api-Api Centre where they were working exploded and caught fire.
Four of the victims, aged 25 to 65 have been warded at the critical zone at Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1 while a 56-year old companion only suffered 20 per cent burns on his body.
One of the five employees, Kassim Lanjim, 52, died around midnight on Thursday.
It was believed the unfortunate incident happened when the workers where carrying out maintenance works at the said substation.
David said it was only logical for SESB to give proper compensation to their staff especially those involved in high risk assignments.
“Carrying out repair works on high voltage cables is a life threatening job and a slight error could make a difference between life and death,” David said.
It was believed the unfortunate incident happened when the workers where carrying out maintenance works at the said substation.
Reacting to the misfortunes of the victims, David said the unfortunate incident should now be an eye opener to SESB and other contractors.
“We don’t want to see another incident to happen now and in the future... workers involved in high risk jobs should be properly compensated without compromise,” David reiterated.
He said the victims involved in the evening incident are Musli bin Lin, Mohd Harris,Moh Nazarudden, Jamal Lin, and Kassim.
Finally, David is also calling on the public to prolong their patience when experiencing temporary power cut in their respective areas.
“Let’s avoid putting pressure to people carrying out maintenance works in the field especially at night... these workers are trying their utmost to immediately address the problem for the convenince of all consumers and putting pressure on them in terms of complaints will only put workers in a life threatening situation,” David stressed.