Following initial findings of non-compliance of construction procedures, the state government of Penang will set up a high-level committee to investigate last Friday’s fatal landslide at the Bukit Kukus paired road project site.
To be headed by Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, the special committee would identify parties responsible for the incident, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Public Works Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari and an engineer from the Economic Planning Unit of the Penang state secretary’s office will be part of the panel, along with representatives from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), reported Free Malaysia Today.
The special committee – which will be separate from concurrent investigations by other federal agencies like the Department of Safety and Health (DOSH) – would summon for questioning key technical agencies, independent checking engineers, contractors and sub-contractors involved in the project.
“Lives are precious. There will be no compromise. We hope the committee will start work soon and complete it in a reasonable period,” said Chow.
He revealed that the findings of the investigations would be brought to the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), an agency under the jurisdiction of the works ministry that regulates and monitors engineers.
The search and recovery operation at the landslide area in Bukit Kukus ended on Wednesday (23 October), with nine bodies extricated from the heap of soil that fell from a hill slope. Four people survived with minor injuries.
Mayor Yew Tung Seang had previously hinted of negligence at the 5km elevated bypass project, after finding that a water source at the hill top had not been diverted.
Image sourced from The Malay Mail
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