Works Minister: Stop-work order issued on SUKE site where crane collapsed

Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. -filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: A stop-work order has been issued on the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) site where a crane collapsed, says Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

"Only rescue work can be conducted. The contractor and their safety team must also come out with suggestions for safety measures if they wish to continue with the project, ” he said.

This comes after a crane collapsed and fell on a car at a SUKE construction site at Puncak Banyan, Persiaran Alam Damai on Monday (March 22), killing three workers and injuring a motorist.

The driver of the car - a Malaysian - was severely injured while three construction workers fell 120 feet from the construction site and died at the scene.

Speaking to the media when met at the scene, Fadillah said that their safety plan would then be audited.

“The road here will be closed until the rescue efforts have concluded and an alternative route is being located. If no route is found they have to explain to us how they would ensure safety while works are being conducted, ” he said.

Fadillah also said that maintenance work was being carried out when the crane collapsed.

“Now the priority is to stabilise (the site) and also the rescue work. It is expected that the rescue effort will only conclude at night because it is quite challenging," he said.

This is the second incident involving the SUKE this year, as five people were trapped in a factory van travelling on the MRR2 Highway near Bandar Tasik Selatan on March 3 when a portion of a bridge under construction fell on it at around 5.58pm after it was hit by a trailer carrying heavy machinery.

In the previous incident involving the factory van, two women were killed while another three people were seriously injured.

Following the previous incident, Projek Lintasan Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Sdn. Bhd confirmed that the trailer that impacted scaffolding belonging to the SUKE construction site was a private vehicle and was not involved in or affiliated with the construction of the highway in any way.