Residents question safety measures at SUKE project

In the latest incident, a steel column (on the left) fell at the exit of the neighbourhood, almost hitting a worker and a vehicle.

Residents of Taman Bukit Manda’rina Second Enclave in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur are concerned about safety measures at a highway construction site.

The residential neighbourhood, which faces the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Expressway (SUKE) highway, has borne the brunt of the construction works with heavy vehicles plying Persiaran Alam Damai as well as constant noise pollution and some near misses.

The latest incident involved a steel column falling at the exit of the neighbourhood that almost hit a worker and a passing vehicle. Following the June 20 incident, a stop-work order for the affected area was issued by Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH).

Resident Peter Frankfort, 55, said the steel column narrowly missed his son, who was driving out of the area, when the incident took place.

“His car had just merged onto the main road less than 30 seconds before the column fell. It was only by luck that no one was injured,” he said, adding that residents were shocked when they saw a video of the near-miss.

Another resident Max Tsan, 43, said a 6.09m steel cable from the construction site fell into his compound in March.

“We were lucky that there was no one outside the house at the time.

“There have been too many such incidents and the project developers must improve their safety standards,” he said.

Bukit Manda’rina Residents’ Association chairman Colin Stuart said there had been several incidents which called into question the safety precautions taken by the contractors.

“Several other residents have had building materials falling into their backyard, narrowly missing their houses.

“We have had to put up with the constant construction noise, even on weekends and public holidays, as well as damaged roads leading to our homes and now we are in danger of falling debris,” he said.

He added that even the pedestrian walkways had been removed for the construction works.

When contacted, Projek Lintasan Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Sdn Bhd, the concessionaire of SUKE, said that in the 5.10pm incident last Saturday, a steel mould framework fell onto the ground during the process of its disassembly.

It added that traffic management was being carried out during the incident and no member of the public was affected.

“SUKE takes safety issues very seriously and the contractor had been immediately ordered to cease all activities at the affected site, pending a thorough investigation,” it said in a statement.

SUKE also emphasised its strict commitment to all safety regulation and procedures, adding that it cooperates fully with the Malaysian Highway Association (MHA), Environment Department (DOE), Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

It said it regretted any inconvenience caused and would be taking full measures to rectify the situation.