Warnings were ignored, says engineer

NST Online » Local News
2009/06/03

KUALA TERENGGANU: It was a disaster waiting to happen, said engineer A. Mohamed.
Mohamed, who works in a private firm said he often jogged in the area and had noticed that the space frame which held the roof was getting bent out of shape.

"It could be seen from far away. I feared it would give way eventually and the roof would collapse. Today, it did."

Mohamed claimed he had tried to warn government agencies and the media by sending pictures of the defects but was ignored.

Electrician Hanafiah Osman, 27, whose car was damaged in the incident said he was working on a lamp post outside the stadium when he heard a loud noise.
"I turned around and saw the roof collapsing.

"I rushed to my car but it was already crushed," he said.

Stadium Management Board chief executive officer Arpin Draman said fortunately no event was held at the stadium as the roof collapsed on the grandstand.

"At the time of the incident, only a handful of stadium employees were in the vicinity and none of them were hurt."

Arpin said he had never doubted the stadium's structure as its safety had been assured by the Public Works Department.

"We have a bowling alley and squash courts in the stadium and it was fortunate the roof fell before they opened at 10am."