Corporate hotshot Dr Liew killed by falling 2-ton mould

KUALA LUMPUR: One of the country’s brightest and youngest corporate figures Dr Liew Boon-Horng was killed when an iron mould weighing almost two tonnes fell on his car from one of the two condominium-cum-office blocks under construction along Jalan Sri Hartamas. 

The impact of the mould, used to make concrete slabs and measuring 4m by 5m, fell from the 20th floor, causing the left side of the metallic blue BMW to be partially crushed in the 3pm tragedy yesterday. 

Dr Liew, 35, the managing consultant of Ethos Consulting, seated in the front passenger seat, died on the spot. His driver sustained serious head injuries. 

FATAL MOMENT: A 2-ton iron mould fell from the 20th floor of acondominium-cum-office block under construction at Jalan Sri Hartamas,crushing the car and killing Dr Liew (inset).

His company is one of the most authoritative management and strategic consultancy firms in the country. 

He was said to be well connected and counted special assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister Omar Mustapha, head of policy unit in the Prime Minister’s office Ahmad Zaki Zahid and Umno Deputy Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin as among his personal friends. 

His former partner at Ethos Consulting is Omar. 

Dr Liew made his name while working for the world famous McKinsey & Co, where he was an engagement manager and senior consultant in its office here and in Athens. 

Dr Liew, or Boon as he was known to his friends, had his early education in Malacca, where he was born.  

He graduated in electrical and information science from Cambridge University for both his first degree (he obtained a first class honours) and Master's. He continued to read for his PhD at the same university in the field of engineering. 

His wife Joanne, who was seated behind the driver, suffered head injuries while the driver, only identified as Harun, in his 40s, had injuries to the head and left shoulder. 

Both of them were admitted to the Pantai Medical Centre, while Dr Liew’s body was sent to the University Malaya Medical Centre. 

Firemen had to extricate Dr Liew’s body, which was pinned in the car. 

The impact from the mould also caused the front windscreen of a lorry parked nearby to shatter. 

SHOCKING: Brickfields senior investigating officer Asst Supt K. Saravanan standing on the mouldas he looks up to see how it could have fallen onto the car

Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim said the incident occurred just as Harun was driving into the car park of Plaza Damas.  

“We believe Dr Liew was going back to his office located at Plaza Damas after lunch when the incident occurred.  

“We are also investigating how the mould could have fallen from the 20th floor of the building,” he said, adding that based on investigations, both the blocks were planned to be constructed as high as 34 floors.  

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