DOSH sending in experts to probe awning collapse

KOTA KINABALU: Forensic experts from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will be called in to investigate the collapse of a glass canopy that injured five workers as it was being fitted onto a new shopping mall. One of them later died.

Sabah DOSH director Mohd Zahari Hitam said the team from Putrajaya was expected to arrive soon.

“We have issued an immediate stop-work order at the site of the mall that is under construction,” he said yesterday.

Mohd Zahari said they were also questioning the developers, contractor and workers to verify the cause of the Monday morning accident that occurred when the support for the canopy collapsed.

Fitri Munir, 18, a foreigner, died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital yesterday.

His foreign co-workers – Abdul Yusof Sadisin Jan, 24, Taslim Lilin, 26, and Abdul Basir Haruddin, 17 – and Malaysian Hervin Mursalin, 18, are in stable condition at the hospital.

Syarikat Kapasi Sdn Bhd’s KK Times Square senior project manager Leong Chee Gin said in a statement: “We are saddened by the incident. We are investigating the cause of the collapse together with our main contractor and consultants.”