Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd and Giga Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd had exposed the public to safety risks during their work on the Second Penang Bridge after a ramp collapsed in June last year. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 24, 2014.
Two companies found guilty of exposing the public to safety risks during their work on the Second Penang Bridge should have been slapped with heavier fines, said a PKR lawmaker.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said the RM50,000 and RM35,000 fines meted out to Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd and Giga Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd respectively were too light and did not do justice to the victims.
A ramp collapsed at the Second Penang Bridge in June last year, which claimed the life of former policeman Tajudin Zainal Abidin, 45, and injured four others.
"The penalties meted out by the Sessions Court to the two companies were too small and do not do justice to the victims," Sim said in a statement today.
Both Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd and Giga Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd had been contracted to carry out work on the Second Penang Bridge.
During a re-mention of the ramp collapse at the Sessions Court in Balik Pulau yesterday, both companies pleaded guilty and were fined.
Cergas Murni was fined RM50,000 after pleading guilty to an offence under Section 17 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.
Section 17 requires employers to undertake duties to ensure those not under their employment are not exposed to risks to safety and health.
Giga Engineering & Construction was fined RM35,000 after pleading guilty under Section 15 (1) of the same Act for failure to ensure the safety of its employees at the site.
Tajudin died after being crushed while driving a Perodua Kelisa car under the ramp along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.
The injured were Malaysians R. Thilasheni and G. Gajashantini, and foreign workers Slamet Toket and Tin Maung Lwin, who were operating at the site of the Package 3A of the bridge project.
Sim said Tajudin's family had suffered greatly following the loss of a husband and father, hence justice had not been done to them.
"The prosecution should appeal to the higher courts for a heavier penalty to be slapped on the two companies," Sim said.
“Second, 18 months after the incident happened, the cause is still a mystery. What caused the ramp to collapse?"
Sim said the light penalties in punitive fines were not an effective deterrent to construction companies to adopt greater safety measures.
The 24km Second Penang Bridge, built at a cost of RM4.5 billion, was opened on March 1 this year.
It was named the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge, after the Sultan of Kedah, who is also the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
- TMI
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