KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 — About 120 residents in Taman Desa today staged a sit-in protest against a high-rise condominium project in the area after a crane crash last month.
The group claimed the developer of The Address had not taken any “serious” action after the crane’s arm crashed into the adjacent Tiara Faber car park, metres away from the condominium’s Block C residences.
“Yes, they (the developer) did come to inspect the damages at Tiara Faber and that was it,” Jeremy Gan, a representative of Protect Taman Desa Coalition said during the demonstration.
“Until today, we have not received any concrete answer from the developer, contractor and the authorities,” he added.
According to Gan, the residents were informed of a stop-work order of the project after the crane crash, but they had not received the document in hand.
The incident occurred two weeks ago at around 2pm, reportedly while the crane was lifting a concrete block.
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has said that investigations into the matter were ongoing.
Frustrated over a non-response from either side, the group today submitted a memorandum to a representative of the contractor in hopes for a positive step forward.
In the memorandum, the group, among others demanded details of the stop-work order, which area had been cordoned off, and a feasibility study to ensure that the project is safe for surrounding residents and to call for a joint committee between residents and the developer.
Another representative of the group, Kong Kam Yim said something had to be done immediately to avoid future accidents.
“There are three schools here and this project is located very nearby these schools.
“Imagine what would happen if the crane tipped the other side and fell near the school?” he said.
Seputeh MCA vice chairman Datuk Banie Chin, who was also present, said he would bring the matter up with the KL City Hall.
Chin said he will lead the residents to protest before the KL mayor if the matter was not addressed soon.
“I will call up the officer in charge to find out what are the contents of the stop work order,” he said.
A check later revealed that the contractor had only received a verbal stop-work order on the incident where the crane had fallen, and not the entire project.
Last December, some 90 resident protested against the project, saying that their mental and physical health had suffered due to the work carried out in the project site.
This was also the second incident of a crane-related accident in Taman Desa, after a crane boom crashed and killed a person in October last year.
