Two die as gondola plunges to the ground

Two die as gondola plunges to the ground
11 Jan 2007

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the "lift" was also piled with marble tiles which added a lot of weight to it.

When people will learned... that lives is more important than time and schedule?

KUALA LUMPUR: Two men lost their lives at a construction site when a gondola carrying workers and construction materials plunged 15 metres to the ground.

Six workers are fighting for their lives at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital while four were admitted with fractured limbs. All 10 are from India.

Malaysian Liew Wan Chew, 52, and Hram Uk, 35, a Myanmar, died on the spot at the building site of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, a posh condominium and shopping complex.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, who visited the site, said he was unhappy with the spate of tragedies at construction sites and warned of stern action if there was negligence.

"I will not compromise on safety at construction sites.

"I have repeatedly said that safety of workers and public must be given top priority to avert tragedies. This is the second time this has happened at this site," he said.

City police deputy chief Senior Assistant Commissioner (I) Zulhasnan Najib Baharuddin said both men died on the spot after concrete slabs crushed their heads.

Dang Wangi OCPD ACP Muhammad Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman said in the 12pm incident, the gondola leaned to one side, believed to be due to overloading, before the cable snapped plunging it to the ground.

Liew’s son Wei Lun said his father had complained that the "lift had defects" and there had been several near misses.

"I did not expect to lose him this way," he said, adding that his father has been working as a construction worker for more than 10 years.

Hram’s cousin, identified only as Steven, said his cousin came to work in Malaysia two years ago with the hope of making enough money to send to back to his family so that they could enjoy a better life.

One injured worker Ramphal Singh, 22, who fractured his arm, said he was thankful to be alive.

He said he managed to jump clear just before scaffolding hit the ground.

"I am returning to India when I recover. I am not going to work here anymore," he said.

Deep Singh, 20, said the "lift" was also piled with marble tiles which added a lot of weight to it.

He had injuries to his body and leg and hoped to return to work when he recovers.

Department of Occupational Safety and Health Director-General Zainuddin Abdullah who was at the site with his team of officers issued an immediate stop-work order.

Pavilion KL executive director Y.S. Liew said the workers were from Usaha Tiga Sdn Bhd, one of the 60 sub-contractors working at the construction site. Urusharta Cemerlang Sdn Bhd is the Pavillion KL owner.



Lesson learnt
overloaded gondola