Faulty car park gets KK City Hall approval

The Health Ministry already under attack for poor healthcare in Sabah is expected to fully take over a defective car park linked to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hospital.

KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) has allegedly issued an all-clear “occupational certificate” (OC) to the turnkey contractor of the newly completed five-storey car park at the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hospital (QEH2) despite visible cracks which have appeared at various levels.

The five-storey car park together with the hospital is scheduled to be handed over to the government by July 31.

The car park was built at the hospital to allow patients and visitors easier access to the hospital facilities.

Several contractors, who declined to be named, have questioned DBKK’s haste in issuing the OC when it knew about the problem.

Some of them along with the public, who came across the cracks about two months ago, had highlighted the problem and posted their comments on the social networking site Facebook.

But apparently the matter received little attention.

Yesterday, SAPP women’s wing chief Melanie Chia said the party had sent a team to verify the defects following public complaints about the safety of the structure.

During the inspection, it was discovered that cracks were evident, especially on the upper floors of the new car park that was completed two months ago.

On the fourth level of the car park, workmen were seen sealing the cracks on the floor and there were also signs of repair work on the ceilings at Level 3.

“We are not experts, but looking at the cracks at the car park building and the on-going repair work, can we be certain that the multi-levels car parks are safe?” asked Chia.

Safety in question

Chia, who is also the Luyang State assemblywoman, also questioned the professionalism of DBKK for granting the OC for the structure when it was clear that it was damaged.

“How can DBKK issue the OC for the car park when it is not complete?

“Isn’t it the responsibility of the local authority to look after the interest of the public?” she asked.

Chia has also questioned the claim that the former Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) building would be ready for full takeover by the government by the end of this month.

She said the claims that the project will be “handed over without compromising the quality and safety” of the building was now suspect.

“We do not wish to see sub-standard works at taxpayers’ expense. The rush by the contractor (to meet the delivery deadline) should not be at the expense of the public.

“Public safety is of utmost importance in public building, especially a hospital,” she said.

She noted that the renovation works at QEH2 were supposed to have been completed last year.

Power failure

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai came under fire for the delay in the completion of the general hospital which he first announced would be completed in February. But when the deadline passed, he said it would be completed in May this year.

The construction of the car park was also a contentious issue as doubts were raised that the hospital complex appeared hemmed in and lacked the spaciousness of the former SMC.

According to sources, government land adjacent to the hospital that could have been used to expand the hospital facilities has been earmarked for commercial development.

Meanwhile it was also learnt that the new hospital suffered a 20-minute electricity blackout yesterday and backup generators failed to activate.