Probe into Penang accidents to focus on corrupt 'godfathers'

Who gets what government contract from political godfathers... that is expected to be a major focus when an independent panel into two major accidents in Penang begins.

Former Bar Council president Yeo Yang Poh will lead the inquiry and its scope will be revealed next week, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim said Yeo will be the chairman of the state committee of inquiry into civil structure failures.

The committee was set up to dig into the mishaps of the second Penang Bridge ramp and the crash of the lightning arrestor from Menara Umno.

Lim said the remaining members of the committee, the scope and the time frame will be announced soon.

Almost exactly a month to this day, on June 6, the concrete ramp at an exit of the second Penang Bridge collapsed. This was being built at the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

A former policeman, Tajudin Zainal Abidin, 45, was killed in the incident while three people, including two foreign workers, were injured.

Tajudin was driving a Perodua Kelisa when the ramp fell on his vehicle and buried it under tonnes of rubble. His body was only extricated the next day.

The lightning arrestor lies on the ground (right) with a damaged car nearby in this June 13 tragedy in Penang. July 7, 2013.

The three injured were Thilasheni Rajendran, 24, Slamat, 36, from Indonesia, and Tin Maung Iwin, 39, from Myanmar.

The Penang Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) began investigations into the collapse and the results are expected to be submitted to the legal adviser next week.

The department also tightened safety measures by directing the five contractors under Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd to send a weekly report on the workplace.

In the Menara Umno incident, which occurred on June 14, the lightning arrestor fell and landed on several cars, leaving a gaping five-metre crater on the ground.

Two people were killed in the incident, Indian national Jahir Sulaiman, 46, and rice seller Lim Chin Aik, 44. Lim's body was never found.

An inquest was held to confirm Lim's death and to move forward the insurance claim by the family.

Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik said a check with the Penang Municipal Council revealed the owner of Menara Umno failed to submit a safety audit report, which was due in 2011.

It was also reported that JKP Sdn Bhd, the owner of Menara Umno, said they were willing to be taken to court if it was found to be negligent in failing to submit a periodical building audit.

Company CEO Adzmi Ariffin said the company was also conducting an internal investigation into the alleged failure to submit the report to the Penang Island Municipal Council in 2008.

- TMI