GEORGE TOWN, Oct 23 — The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) has offered its technical assistance and opinion in the investigations into the cause of the deadly landslide at a construction site in Tanjung Bungah here.
IEM president Tan Yean Chin said in a statement that many of its members are learned and experienced practitioners who will be able to offer their expert opinions on this tragic event.
He said based on observations, the construction project in Lembah Permai, Tanjung Bungah was not on the hill slope but on the land adjacent to the hill slope.
“The general perception of the recent Tanjung Bungah Landslide is because it is Hill-Site Development.
“This type of constructions are common in areas with land constraint such as Kuala Lumpur and many developed cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore,” he said.
He said professional engineers shall be responsible to determine the appropriate construction methods based on the information and data available such as the soil investigation report.
“The Engineering Consultant of the project should have full time representatives at the site to supervise and monitor to ensure that the contractor appointed complied with all safety and design requirements,” he said.
He added that all parties involved in the construction should be responsible to prevent any incidents or mishaps due to failures at the construction site.
Tan earlier said construction failures and accidents can occur during the construction stage, temporary works, or after construction stage, permanent works.
He explained that in the construction industry, temporary works are required in erecting permanent works which is under the contractor’s responsibility.
“There are many incidents of mishaps, failures and weaknesses in temporary works leading to collapse of structures and accidents at site that are hazardous to public safety,” he said.
He said although temporary works are the contractor’s responsibility, professional engineers involved in the project must also play an active role to ensure its safety.
He pointed out that the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) published the “Guidelines on the Role and Responsibility of Professional Engineers for Temporary Works during Construction Stage” as a guide to all professional engineers involved in temporary works.
He claimed many construction accidents were due to a failure of the contractor in engaging professional engineers for temporary works to carry out the design, endorsement and supervision of temporary works that facilitate the contractor’s construction works.
“The professional engineer for temporary works shall ensure that the temporary works design (include analysis, calculations, drawings and specifications) shall be structurally stable with sufficient details for construction and buildable by contractor with considerations of construction sequence at site and safe,” he said.
The deadly landslide which occurred at a construction site of an affordable housing project on Saturday claimed 11 lives.
The Penang state government, which has been heavily criticised by several quarters for allowing the project to be approved, has ordered for a state commission of inquiry into the incident.
