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New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
NIOSH urges probe into Bangsar site after Briton's tragic death
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has urged authorities to investigate the developer and all parties involved in the Bangsar construction site where a 25-year-old British solo traveller was found dead last week. Its chairman, Chong Chieng Jen, said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) must immediately determine whether there were breaches of standard operating procedures (SOPs) or violations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 (Amendment) 2022. He said NIOSH viewed the incident seriously and called for an immediate and comprehensive probe into how a high-risk worksite in an urban area like Bangsar could be accessed by members of the public. "Construction sites are high-risk zones and should, under no circumstances, be accessible to the general public," he said, adding that the death raised serious questions about the adequacy of on-site safety controls. Chong said the incident underscored the need for developers, contractors, and all stakeholders to re-evaluate their approach to workplace safety and public risk management. He noted that Section 15 of the amended OSHA 1994 mandates employers to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of their workers, while Section 17 imposes a similar duty to protect others, including non-workers, who may be affected by worksite activities. "Section 17 explicitly states that employers and self-employed persons must, as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that people who are not their employees are not exposed to health or safety risks due to their activities. "They are also required to inform individuals present at their worksites of any risks that could affect their safety or health," he said in a response to the New Straits Times. Chong added that failure to comply with these provisions could result in a maximum fine of RM500,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. According to police, the 25-year-old victim is believed to have entered the construction area before falling to his death into a partially completed lift shaft, where his decomposing body was later found submerged in water. The man, who had arrived in Malaysia from Vietnam on May 17, was reported missing on May 27 by his mother in the United Kingdom. According to police, the 25-year-old victim is believed to have entered the construction area before falling to his death in a halfway constructed lift shaft, with his decomposing body partially submerged in water. The man The man who arrived here from Vietnam on May 17 was reported missing since May 27 by his mother in the United Kingdom. The case has sparked widespread concern over site security and public safety enforcement. Chong said project stakeholders, including developers, principal contractors, subcontractors, site owners, and security providers, must fully understand their legal responsibilities and the severe consequences of negligence. He stressed that those responsible must ensure all construction sites are secured with effective perimeter fencing, proper surveillance, controlled entry and exit points, as well as clear and comprehensible warning signage. "The amended OSHA 2022 reinforces the principle of shared responsibility among all parties involved in a construction project. "Risk management at construction sites must not only focus on worker safety but also on ensuring the protection of the general public, especially in densely populated or tourist-heavy urban areas," Chong said. He added that NIOSH stands ready to assist the relevant authorities in strengthening the safety culture across the construction industry through awareness programmes, training, and guidance to ensure full compliance with OSHA 2022 requirements. On Saturday, Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye questioned whether proper safety measures had been in place at the project.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- The Sun
Putra Heights fire: Technical report expected to be completed on June 26
SHAH ALAM: The technical report related to the gas pipeline explosion and fire incident in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on April 1, is expected to be completed by June 26. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the investigation report will also be aligned with the results of the criminal investigation before being made public. 'We cannot release our criminal investigation now because we need to combine it with the technical investigation as there are still areas that need to be identified from the criminal investigation,' he said when met after an e-Bike Handover Ceremony at the Selangor Police Contingent headquarters here today. He said the technical investigation under the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) also covers the integrity of the pipes, ground movement, and determines whether any activities in the area exert pressure on the gas pipeline. On May 27, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the police as well as the DOSH investigation reports regarding the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights are expected to be released by the end of June. Hussein said the police investigation also covering aspects of negligence or sabotage, had been completed, and they are waiting for the DOSH to complete their investigation. The Petronas gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights at 8.10 am on April 1 saw flames reaching heights of over 30 metres (m) with temperatures reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius, taking nearly eight hours to extinguish, and causing a 9.8 m-deep crater at the incident site.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- The Sun
Putra Heights fire: Technical report expected on June 26
SHAH ALAM: The technical report related to the gas pipeline explosion and fire incident in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on April 1, is expected to be completed by June 26. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the investigation report will also be aligned with the results of the criminal investigation before being made public. 'We cannot release our criminal investigation now because we need to combine it with the technical investigation as there are still areas that need to be identified from the criminal investigation,' he said when met after an e-Bike Handover Ceremony at the Selangor Police Contingent headquarters here today. He said the technical investigation under the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) also covers the integrity of the pipes, ground movement, and determines whether any activities in the area exert pressure on the gas pipeline. On May 27, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the police as well as the DOSH investigation reports regarding the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights are expected to be released by the end of June. Hussein said the police investigation also covering aspects of negligence or sabotage, had been completed, and they are waiting for the DOSH to complete their investigation. The Petronas gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights at 8.10 am on April 1 saw flames reaching heights of over 30 metres (m) with temperatures reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius, taking nearly eight hours to extinguish, and causing a 9.8 m-deep crater at the incident site.
New Straits Times
02-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Putra Heights gas explosion: Cause of blast known this month, say police
KUALA LUMPUR: The cause of the Putra Heights gas explosion, including whether it was triggered by excavation works or others, is expected to be confirmed once investigations by the police and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) are completed later this month. However, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed the presence of an excavator at the site before the explosion. "We confirm that an excavator was used for excavation work to install sewer pipes in front of a shop lot that has yet to be completed. "We believe that when the explosion occurred, the excavator was buried in the crater. "So, at the end of the restoration works, we will excavate the area to remove it," he said this during an episode of the Podcast Utama titled Bahang Sengsara Putra Heights last night. Hussein said police will carry out excavation works at the location to verify the excavator's position once samples for the DOSH investigation are collected and Petronas' pipeline repair works are completed. He added that from the first day of the investigation, the police's forensic team had been re-excavating the pipeline installation area managed by the contractor. "Previously, the investigation focused on the central area of the pipe. "We dug up to 16 metres because the explosion had altered the structure and depth of the ground. "One of the key aspects of the investigation is the excavation work. The police have identified who carried out the work, which contractor was involved, what machinery was used, and the purpose of the work," he said. He also said that any disturbance to the soil could be detected by the forensic team. "The forensic team was tasked with examining the extent of soil disturbance or digging. "We can determine the depth of the excavation based on precise measurements taken. "The main question is whether the excavation works caused the pipeline to rupture and explode. "This will be answered through the technical investigations by the police and DOSH," he said. Hussein added that the investigation also includes the possibility of explosive elements. "We collected soil samples to determine whether any explosive substances were present that could have triggered the incident. "For example, if there were old bombs planted or elements of sabotage, all of that is within the scope of the investigation," he said.
The Star
27-05-2025
- The Star
Five officers nabbed over cable theft
SEPANG: Five policemen were among those arrested when authorities busted a cable theft syndicate that had stolen more than RM500,000 worth of materials in the Klang Valley. Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the policemen – two holding the rank of sergeant and three holding the rank of corporal – had allegedly funnelled information on police movements and operations to the syndicate. The arrests also included two contractors for utility firm TM, who had taught the group how to steal cables without triggering alarms, he said. The swoop began on May 19 when a police patrol from the Kampung Datuk Abu Bakar Baginda police station in Kajang came across three cars parked next to an oil palm plantation. 'Checks showed that two suspects were outside the plantation while six others were burning cables inside the estates. 'Two of the suspects escaped during police inspections while six were successfully arrested,' Comm Hussein said. The next day, follow-up investigations led to the arrest of three others, including a woman. 'Then on May 22, operations in Cheras and Kajang led to the arrest of six more suspects. These arrests included five policemen who have been remanded.' A final suspect was caught on May 23 in Taman Sungai Besi but was released on police bail due to a health condition. 'It is believed that the group had been active for a year. 'All suspects are aged between 23 and 53 years old,' he said. Both masterminds had 36 and 29 past police records respectively and had been involved in past cases of cable theft, Comm Hussein said. Investigations also showed that the syndicate had made 23 transactions by selling their stolen goods to scrap metal shops in the Semenyih area. 'It is believed that the group had been involved in about 23 cases. 'The value of the cables stolen by the group has been placed at about RM682,183,' he said. A total of 208 cable theft cases within Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have been recorded from January to April this year, said Comm Hussein, accounting for a third of all such cases nationwide. In a separate matter, the full Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) report on the Putra Heights gas explosion is due to be completed by the end of June, Comm Hussein said. 'The police have concluded their investigation and handed over the scene to Petronas for recovery and repair work,' he added. 'Our full findings will be issued together with the release of DOSH's report.' The gas pipeline fire on April 1 destroyed a total of 81 homes while another 81 were classified as partially destroyed. Some 57 homes were also affected but not burned. Comm Hussein also said an excavator that is of interest to investigators will be dug out during repair works.
