MRT Corp identifies culprits
The Star Online, 20 September 2014
KUALA LUMPUR: MRT Corp has identified the individuals responsible for the accident that killed three Bangladeshi workers in August and is taking action to remove them from its projects.
MRT Corp chief executive Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said the individuals would not only be barred from working on the current line but possible future MRT projects as well.
“These individuals will go. We sent them (the companies involved in construction) letters that they should not be on the project,” he told The Star.
He earlier told reporters at a press briefing that the companies employing those responsible for the accident would be operating under more stringent and controlled environments.
“If it warrants, they will totally be removed, but I’m not going to commit to that at the moment,” he said. When asked if the companies would be blacklisted from future MRT work such as Line 2, Azhar said MRT Corp had not decided yet.
MRT Corp is currently overseeing the construction of its 51km Sungai Buloh-Kajang line, otherwise known as Line 1. Two more lines are expected to be built in the future.
On Friday, MRT Corp presented the results of its investigation into an accident where a 350-tonne concrete span fell and crushed three foreign workers on Aug 18.
They found that shims that were supposed to secure the span while on elevated piers were not there and the span toppled over when parapets were installed atop it. A shim is a washer or thin strip of material such as wood, stone or metal used to align parts, make them fit, or reduce wear.
The Star learned that permanent bearings would replace the shims to secure the span once construction was finished.
Azhar also named Syarikat Muhibah Perniagaan & Pembinaan as the main contractor behind the package involved and Aecom Perunding as the supervising consultant.
Legal action, Azhar added, would be up to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Citing the Occupational Safety and Health Act, however, he said those responsible might face a fine of up to RM50,000, or jailed not more than two years, or both.
Asked if he would still be stepping down over the accident, Azhar said he would leave MRT Corp by Dec 31 or when a suitable replacement was found.
“My departure, as I have agreed with the Government, will be decided upon once this report (on the accident) is finalised,” he said.
