Man-made disasters: The Penang Umno HQ

The collapse of a 20-metre lighting arrester pole from the Umno building in Jalan Macalister during a storm and caused casualties is the best example of fallen misfortune.

It is a man-made disaster, instead of a natural disaster or accident. Which unit is actually responsible for approving such kind of additional structures on high-rise buildings? Did they ensure that the additional structure is able to withstand external forces, including strong wind? Did the authorities and building owner make regular inspection to ensure safety?

If additional structures on high-rise buildings are unable to withstand jolts and external forces, they can turn into fatal weapons at any time. Whoever hit by the additional structure falling from high-rise buildings would not have a chance to survive.

According to Datuk Adzmi Ariffin, the chief executive officer of Umno building's owner JKP Sdn Bhd, the fallen conductor pole was specifically designed to house a lightning arrester.

In other words, the lightning arrester could actually be installed directly on the roof of the building, but a conductor pole was built instead as a decoration to the building.

Work Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof was not sure whether the lightning arrester facility on the building was approved.

The general understanding is, buildings are under the responsibility of local governments and local governments can issue an occupation permit only after various units have inspected the buildings, including fire-fighting equipment. However, do local governments have enough professionals and knowledge to inspect additional structures on high-rise buildings?

The collapse of the lightning arrester from the Umno building in Penang has revealed a potential crisis, namely tall building's regulatory oversight. Are building owners required to summit a safety annual report to the authority? Do the authority carry out periodic inspections? If these aspects are neglected, or not carried out by experts, the federal government should then find a way to correct the weaknesses.

Not only the lightning arrester of the Penang Umno building, but many other high-rise buildings in other states might also be decorated with additional structures. If no immediate inspection work is carried out, who can guarantee that similar incident would not take place during storms?

In fact, there are already so many man-made disasters due to loose regulation. Such as the collapse of the an uncompleted flyover connecting to the still-under-construction second Penang bridge at Batu Maung has caused the death of a motorist. There would not be scaffolding supporting failure if it was closely supervised.

On March 29, a passenger was killed while the driver was injured when a part of a boom crane fell off a trailer and crashed onto their car near the underpass of the Subang Airport-Subang Jaya road. On May 29, a restaurant worker was killed, while his employer was seriously injured, when the car they were travelling in was crushed by a triangular iron frame which fell off a trailer.

If the safety of construction sites are closely monitored, would there be so much workplace accidents? If strict actions are taken against trailer operators who have violated laws and regulations, the above mentioned incidents could be avoided. I have seen lorry carrying huge piles of tree trunks for more than once and if the tree trunks fall off, pass-by vehicles would be crushed.

Malaysia is a paradise without natural disaster. However, due to regulatory weaknesses, the country has been filled with man-made disasters and tragedy will keep repeating if no action is taken against those who should bear the responsibility, no reflection is carried out and no correction is made. Is it really our unalterable fate?

- Sin Chew Daily