Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the road or lane must be closed to all traffic if a heavy structure has to be removed in implementing road or highway construction projects.
He noted that the matter is one of the strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) that contractors must comply with to ensure the safety of the public and workers, reported Bernama.
“In the implementation of such a project, if, for example, you want to move the gantry launcher, the road needs to be closed. Once the structure is safely [moved], only then [you] reopen the route,” he said at a press conference after handing over the letter of acceptance of projects (SST) under the Ministry of Works and the Public Works Department’s purview recently.
Fadillah was commenting on the accident at the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) construction site, which killed three workers.
The initial investigation showed that the accident happened when one of the gantry crane components fell and hit a moving vehicle.
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Expressing his disappointment, Fadillah said the project contractor had already been repeatedly warned to abide by the SOPs, yet similar incidents recurred, according to the Bernama report.
Hence, he called on the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to investigate the matter and take strict action should the contractor be found to have breached the SPOs.
“These contractors can be blacklisted [and] not given any project for two years,” he said as quoted by Bernama.
He also urged the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to investigate the matter in detail.
Meanwhile, Fadillah also handed over the SST for seven projects to representatives of the involved ministries.
The projects include Phase 2 construction of the Sarawak Islamic Skills Institute; 15km of the Central Spine Road (CSR) from Kampung Relong to Ladang Jerkoh, Raub, Pahang; as well as repair and upgrade works on the National Mosque and the Penang Hospital staff quarters.
Other projects include the construction of the health clinic and staff quarters as well as related works in Bukit Ibam, Rompin, Pahang; construction of the MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) in Dungun Terengganu and the proposed upgrade of the Kemas Terengganu Training Centre in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu.
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