MELAKA: The Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) will issue a notice to the management of the Al-Azim Business Complex in Bukit Baru to conduct a structural integrity assessment following the tragic death of a seven-year-old boy.
The boy was killed when heavy debris from a collapsed decorative concrete slab struck him.
MBMB Mayor Datuk Shadan Othman stated that the management must complete the assessment within 30 days of receiving the notice.
The building received its Certificate of Fitness for Occupation (CoF) in 2008 and was once owned by the Melaka Islamic Religious Council (MAIM), though management has since changed to another company.
Shadan said the council is also identifying the developers, consultants, and contractors involved in the building's construction 16 years ago.
He emphasised that the assessment is crucial to evaluate the material quality, structural mass, and operational efficacy of the building, as well as to assess factors contributing to the deterioration or failure of the construction structures.
The assessment will be conducted under Section 71 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133), with potential fines of up to RM500,000 for those found responsible for compromising structural stability or integrity.
On Oct 22, the victim died after being hit by falling debris from a decorative concrete slab on the three-storey building at 10.15pm.
The police identified the deceased boy as Ong Lun Keat.
Ong's five-year-old brother and their 42-year-old father suffered minor injuries.
The family had gone to a bank next to the affected building when the incident occurred, standing outside a Domino’s Pizza outlet when they were struck by the debris.
A postmortem report from Melaka Hospital on Oct 23 revealed that the boy sustained severe trauma and multiple injuries leading to his death.
A 34-year-old manager of Domino’s Pizza also lodged a police report on Oct 22 after six motorcycles parked outside the building were damaged in the incident.
