MELAKA: A 20-year-old man was killed while two others were injured when their motorcycles plunged into an under construction drainage site at Bukit Katil here after safety barriers placed by contractors were removed.
Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Christopher Patit said the three motorcyclists were passing through the worksite of the flood mitigation project at the traffic junction when the freak incident occurred at 6.30am on Thursday (Jan 4).
He identified the deceased as Haiqal Iaman Mohd Shahruddin Abdul Qayyum from Taman Suajana Indah, Ayer Keroh while the injured were Mohd Zaim Bahrin, 31, from Alor Gajah and Chong Min Yang, 57 from Taman Kerjasama, Bukit Beruang here.
Mohd Zaim sustained head injuries and fractured his left leg while Chong suffered injuries to both his legs after their machines plunged about 1.5m into the drainage.
ACP Christopher said the three were on their way from Bukit Katil to Bukit Beruang without realising that part of the stretch was closed due to the absence of safety barriers to warn them.
He said police believed that someone had deliberately removed the cones and hoped that eyewitnesses would come forward to assist in investigations into the irresponsible act.
ACP Christopher said his investigation officers are also trying to get hold of CCTV footage from the surrounding streets to identify those involved in removing the barriers.
He added that the stretch was also wet due to rain when the incident occurred.
Meanwhile, Melaka works, infrastructure, public amenities and transport committee chairman Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer said the Melaka Public Works Department has been ordered to investigate the incident.
He said the investigation is important to determine whether the contractor has adhered to the standard operating procedures when placing the barriers and cones.
“PWD will work closely with the Occupational Safety and Health Department and police to complete the investigation although preliminary evaluation on the incident showed that the contractor had taken the safety measures to block the worksite,” he added.
