Zaliha rubbishes claim of indifference to sinkhole danger

 

Federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said she visited the sinkhole site upon her return from Kuching.

PUTRAJAYA: 

Federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has rubbished allegations that she is indifferent to the sinkhole incident in Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur.

Zaliha said that as a minister, she took the safety of residents seriously and frequently sought the latest updates from the authorities involved.

“I am in contact with the mayor directly to get the latest information on the search and rescue operations.

I also contacted the Indian high commissioner BN Reddy to provide him with the latest update on the operation,

 she told reporters at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

Zaliha said she visited the site of the sinkhole on the second day of the incident after she returned from a trip to Kuching.

Yesterday, Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi said Zaliha should not 

keep mum

 over the tragedy amid residents’ fears about safety as the Malayan Mansion apartments were 50m away from the sinkhole.

Zaliha said Kuala Lumpur mayor Maimunah Sharif had assured her that the residents were safe, having received information from the agencies concerned.

She advised residents to get the latest information from legitimate sources, such as the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

Please refer to the authorities (for information), otherwise it will only create anxiety,

 she said.

In the incident on Friday morning, the victim, identified as Vijayaletchumy, a 48-year-old Indian national, had been walking on a concrete path outside the Malayan Mansion when an eight-metre deep sinkhole suddenly opened up and swallowed her alive.

The search and rescue operation is ongoing. - FMT