cheahsoonhai

Gerakan offers condolences to the victims' families

Cheah Soon Hai: Building guidelines should be strictly reviewed

 
 

Press statement by

Gerakan Central Bureau on Environment, Safety and Quality of Life Chairman

Dr. Cheah Soon Hai

 
 

20 June 2013

 
 

Gerakan Central Bureau on Environment, Safety and Quality of Life Chairman Dr. Cheah Soon Hai expressed his regret over the tragedy where the lightning rod of the UMNO building in Penang collapsed and caused casualties. He offered condolences to the victims' families.

 
 

Dr. Cheah pointed out that the government should set strict building review guidelines and closely monitoring the safety of all buildings. In the past, most of the buildings did not have any regulations set to prevent destruction from gale or typhoon, while at the present, we can find out that many buildings now have erected a lightning rod, radio masts and towers as well as other massive structures atop of their buildings. Therefore, we must take into consideration on the strength of these structures, whether they can withstand the strong blast of a gale or typhoon in order to avoid the recurrence of the similar tragedy.

 
 

"I hope the authorities will be able to identify the real cause of this collapse instead of shirking their responsibilities to each other. If it is concluded that the tragedy was the result of negligence by the contractor or other related party, then stern action must be taken in order to prevent it from happening again," said Dr. Cheah.

 
 

He also said that after this incident, future building review guidelines must take into consideration the elements of gale and typhoon to avoid any casualties.