Remains of victim in Penang warehouse collapse to be repatriated

 

The Construction Industry Development Board said it was investigating the collapse of a warehouse under construction in Penang, which resulted in the deaths of at least three workers. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: The remains of one of the victims killed in the collapse of a logistics warehouse under construction in Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, near here, will be repatriated to his family in Bangladesh.

The victim had been identified as Sayful, 29, by a representative of the Puchong-based company that hired him.

“He was a good and hardworking employee. He was also soft-spoken and well-mannered,” Bernama quoted the representative, who only wanted to be known as Nor, as telling reporters after identifying his body at the Penang Hospital mortuary.

Nor said Sayful’s family in Bangladesh had been notified, adding that he had worked for the company for five years and never failed to send money to his family.

“Before being sent here, he worked in Kuantan, Pahang and Terengganu.”

Nor said Sayful was the only worker from the company involved in the incident, adding that all of its workers had insurance and valid cards issued by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).

Sayful’s close friend and fellow countryman, Tayabur Rahman, 30, who was also present at the mortuary, said he had lost a very good friend.

Meanwhile, CIDB said it would investigate the collapse of the logistics warehouse that was under construction.

According to CIDB, its enforcement officers on site said 14 beams had collapsed, causing the concrete floor to fall and hit the workers on the ground floor, Bernama reported.

“The investigation will be under Section 34B of the Construction Industry Development Board Act 1994, which states that contractors must take responsibility to ensure the building and construction works are safe,” it said.

Failure to do so, which results in death, can lead to a fine of up to RM500,000 or up to two years’ imprisonment.

The CIDB said it would work with the occupational safety and health department and local authorities.

In the incident last night, three Bangladeshi workers were killed and another two were critically injured when they were crushed by debris. The injured workers are receiving treatment at Penang Hospital.

Meanwhile, Penang deputy police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad said four workers who were believed to be trapped under the rubble had actually fled the scene as they did not have work permits.

He said CCTV footage showed the four workers fleeing the site at 9.06pm.

However, they were detained at 4pm today in Bayan Lepas and had been remanded to facilitate investigations. - FMT