KUCHING, July 6 — Contractor negligence was behind the recent collapse of the Second Penang Bridge ramp, said Occupational Health and Safety director general Datuk Dr Johari Basri today.
According to The Star, Basri told a press conference in Kuching that investigations had revealed contractor "shortcomings" in both procedural and technical aspects.
While declining to go into detail, Basri did confirm that his department was preparing to bring charges against the contractor. An appointment had been set for next week to obtain consent from the public prosecutor to press charges.
"For now, all I can say is we have identified negligence.
"We have engaged technical experts and are waiting for their final assessment," said Basri in a quote from The Star.
Former policeman Tajudi Zainal Abidin, 45, was killed when a ramp connected to the Second Penang Bridge collapsed, crushing his vehicle.
Further construction on the Second Penang Bridge has been halted as per a stop-work order. The bridge has been under construction since November 2008, and is estimated to cost RM3 billion with a length of 24 km.
