Expert team to probe bridge collapse near Mid Valley Megamall

KUALA LUMPUR: A special team comprising experts in the construction field from various agencies will be formed to investigate the pedestrian bridge collapse incident near Mid Valley Megamall, here, on Wednesday.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the experts would be from his ministry, the Construction Industry Development Board ( CIDB), Department of Occupational Safety and Health ( DOSH), and Kuala Lumpur City Hall ( DBKL).

He said the team would investigate the cause of the incident, whether it was the design of the bridge, work quality, or lack of monitoring by the site supervisor or security personnel.

“We will study all the possibilities. If proven there was negligence, then under the CIDB Act, the developer of the project can be taken to court and fined up to RM500,000 or jailed for up to two years. Let the team of experts investigate. They will work together to conduct a thorough investigation. The investigation report is expected to be ready in a month.”

Fadillah said this after opening the seminar on ‘ Sustainable Construction Excellence for a Better Future’ organised by the Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (Cream). A 21-year-old Vietnamese contract worker was killed while five other workers were injured in the incident which occurred about 3.30pm yesterday.

The 70-metre pedestrian bridge under construction across the Klang River, connects KL Eco City to The Gardens shopping mall at Mid Valley City. Following the incident, DOSH directorgeneral Datuk Mohtar Musri issued a stop-work order on the bridge construction to the project developer.

Earlier, Fadillah launched the Sustainable Construction Excellence Centre, which is a referral and training centre, established to ensure that the construction industry, in carrying out physical development, creates a sustainable and harmonious environment.

Meanwhile, the search- andrescue operation at the bridge collapse site was discontinued at 11am yesterday after the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department was satisfied that no other victims were buried, as feared, underneath the rubble.

Its assistant director ( Operation), Ruhisha Haris, when met at the site, said the SAR operation was also conducted using two tracker dogs. He said yesterday’s operation involved 68 personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, police, DBKL and Malaysian Red Crescent Society. — Bernama