PAC to probe Terengganu stadium roof collapse

Thursday June 4, 2009
PAC to probe Terengganu stadium roof collapse

PETALING JAYA: The Public Accounts Committee will launch a probe into the roof collapse at Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium, says its deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw.

“A truly independent specialist must be appointed. It must be thoroughly investigated and its report submitted to both committee and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

“I have heard of stadiums collapsing overseas because of a stampede.

“But I have never heard of a stadium collapsing on its own until now,” he said.

Dr Tan said it was important to ensure such an incident did not recur in the future.

“We have to find out why it collapsed and who is responsible as almost RM300mil had been spent on the stadium,” he said.

Dr Tan also urged authorities to charge those responsible for the collapse in court as “thousands could have died.”

Some 5,000 athletes, who were supposed to have converged at the stadium for a sports meet, had to move their event to other venues.

Wanita MCA chairman Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun called for “quick and decisive” actions against those responsible for the wreck.

The companies should be blacklisted, the officials should quit and their professional licences revoked, she said.

Transparency International Malaysia president Datuk Paul Low said a commission of inquiry should be set up to probe the collapse and its proceedings telecast live.

“A lot of people could have been killed. We must find out the root cause of the problem and look into the specifications of the project,” he added - Star