KUCHING, Dec 28: Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian has failed to carry out his duty in the Padang Merdeka fatal accident, said Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen.
“Whether there is any compliance with the safety requirement, to ensure safety at construction sites especially in public areas is the duty of the Minister of Local Government,” he told reporters today.
The state DAP chairman said Dr Sim should have been the first person to address the public on this safety issue involving the ongoing flood mitigation project at Padang Merdeka where a motorcyclist was killed on Dec 26.
“Until today, Dr Sim is keeping mum on this. He is being irresponsible. In this case, silence is not golden, he should tell us who is the contractor; why be so secretive about it?”
Chong and his special assistant Dr Kelvin Yii who went to the site after the incident noted that there wasn’t any legally required signboard indicating the name of contractor and details of the project.
“A life has been lost. And this happened right in the hub of the city; (Dr Sim) should know his basic responsibility and duty,” said Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa state assemblyman.
“Duty of a Minister of Local Government is not about cutting ribbons, pointing at roads and bringing development.”
Chong said Dr Sim often highlighted the development he had brought to Batu Kawah since he was elected, but in fact Kota Sentosa and Padungan had better development than Batu Kawah.
The ongoing flood mitigation work at Padang Merdeka had been put on hold following the incident on Boxing Day morning which claimed the life of a motorcyclist.
The 29-year-old victim, Dina Dzulkarnian Asan, son of a photojournalist, was believed to have drowned after he lost control of his motorcycle and fell into a huge drain.
Concrete barriers and steel bars had been installed surrounding the huge drains there together with safety lights when DayakDaily visited Padang Merdeka earlier today. — DayakDaily
