MELAKA: Part of the ceiling structure at the Melaka Handicraft Bazaar in Bandar Hilir here collapsed but fortunately no injuries were reported.
The incident occurred at 10pm on Sunday (Dec 11) after traders had closed for business.
A bazaar worker, Mustapa Seman, 45, said he was serving a client who was carrying her baby shortly before the incident occurred.
"I heard a loud cracking noise as the client was leaving my stall.
"Within a few seconds, the ceiling came crashing down," he said on Monday (Dec 12).
He said there were no other traders or customers inside as the incident happened just after business hours.
Mustapa is seen looking for the source of the noise in a now-viral 23-second CCTV footage taken moments before the ceiling collapsed.
Another trader who only wanted to be identified as Cigku Elmi, 56, said the traders had made dozens of complaints about the condition of the building's structure and the ceiling since 2019.
"We pay maintenance fees of RM180 a month on top of RM250 rental," he said.
Cigku Elmi said he hoped repairs would be done quickly as some 70 traders are depending on the school holiday period to ensure brisk sales.
Meanwhile, Melaka Fire and Rescue Department Kubu station operations officer, Hairuddin Atan, said seven of his men were despatched to the site at 10am on Monday after receiving a call.
He said the team made a safety evaluation at the site.
