As far as I know, this is the first time that there has been a fatality related to the Petaling Jaya North Sewer which is under construction in and around my vicinity.
None of the "alternative" media carried reports about this unfortunate death. I suppose it is not "sexy" enough for them.
Correction: Free Malaysia Today carried reports about Mr. Yong's passing, though searching for them is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
On 15 May, Free Malaysia Today reported:-
Ex-headmaster Yong dies after PJ manhole accident
And on 16 May, Free Malaysia Today reported:-Over 100 pay respects to construction hole crash victim
Earlier New Straits Times report referred to follows below:-Senior citizen whose car fell into PJ sewage hole, dies
By Hariz Mohd - 15 May 2016 @ 6:58 PM
PETALING JAYA: An octogenarian whose car plunged into a 12m-deep sewage hole in Section 17, here, on May 3, died in hospital earlier today. District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zani Che Din said the victim - Yong Chee Seng, 86, was pronounced dead by doctors at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, here, about noon. "The victim died at UMMC about noon today. A post-mortem will be conducted tomorrow to ascertain the cause of his death," he told the New Straits Times when contacted. Mohd Zani said the post-mortem is expected to be conducted tomorrow (Monday). He said Yong, a retired headmaster, had been warded at the hospital for treatment ever since he was rushed there after the accident. The May 3 incident happened about 2pm when Yong lost control of his Toyota Vios and crashed through safety barriers before it plunged into the uncovered sewage hole at Jalan 17/14. Yong was heading home with his Filipino maid after dropping his sister off at her condominium in SS2 here. The victim was reported as saying that he had injured his neck in the accident, while the 30-year-old maid sustained injuries to the right eye. They were rescued by a team of firemen from Damansara Fire and Rescue Station, who used a winch to pull out the Vios. 1666 reads An octogenarian whose car plunged into a 12m-deep sewage hole in Section 17, here, on May 3, died in hospital earlier today. Pix by Hani Shamira An octogenarian whose car plunged into a 12m-deep sewage hole in Section 17, here, on May 3, died in hospital earlier today. Pix by Hani Shamira
Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/05/145747/senior-citizen-whose-car-fell-pj-sewage-hole-dies
In another report, The Sun demands that the contractors be held responsible for this unfortunate accident and provides greater detail about the incident.
Hold them responsible Posted on 15 May 2016 - 08:07pm
Last updated on 16 May 2016 - 12:01am Lee Choon Fai and Haikal Jalil
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Various quarters today called for strict action to be taken against contractors who are negligent in ensuring public safety when carrying out public works.
This follows the death of 86-year-old former Methodist Boys School headmaster Yong Chee Seng, whose car had plunged into an uncovered 12m-deep pipe-jacking pit on May 3. Yong died at 11pm on Saturday at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) where he was warded.
Yong and his 30-year old maid, who was in the car with him, were earlier reported to have suffered head and body injuries following the accident.
The accident and Yong's death have aroused strong reactions from government agencies and concerned citizens alike who called for stricter enforcement and action against errant contractors.
"His body could not take the trauma caused by the accident due to his advanced age; he even suffered a major heart attack in the morning on the day before he passed away," said Yong's cousin Key Soon Yue, who called for heads to roll over the incident.
"The hole was not covered and the barriers were just cones. Those responsible must be penalised, even charged in court," Key told theSun.
Meanwhile, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said that the pit, which was to facilitate the laying of underground pipes, must be covered when construction was not going on and surrounded with concrete barriers instead of just cones which can be knocked down easily.
He called on local authorities to review regulations and conditions imposed on contractors in the interest of public safety.
"More often than not, contractors merely pay lip service to safety just to get their projects approved and the lack of safety is immediately apparent if one is to inspect the work sites. The state of safety management is deplorable!" said Lee.
Road Safety Department (RSD) director general Abd Ghafar Yusof said stricter enforcement was needed by local councils so contractors would follow safety standards.
"Any contractor who fails to adhere to safety standards has to be identified and penalised immediately. It is not good enough to take action only after someone gets hurt," he said.
Road Transport Department (RTD) enforcement director Datuk Valluvan Veloo said the RTD would engage with local councils and the Urban Wellbeing, Housing, and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) to improve safety near work sites.
He said RTD viewed Yong's accident seriously and was very concerned with the low level of safety seen at several construction sites on public roads.
"I often wonder if local councils conduct checks on roadworks in ensuring adequate safety measures are practised," said Valluvan.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) civil engineering professor Law Teik Hua suggested that local authorities come up with strict, comprehensive safety guidelines so that contractors would know exactly what they need to do.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1802654
Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is right when he said that Malaysia "has a "first world infrastructure with a third world mentality".
Good question by Datuk Valluvan Vello - i.e. what was the local council - i.e. the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) doing to ensure better road safety at such work sites.
Deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Hopefully they will be able to get more than adequate compensation for their tragic loss.
May God bless his soul.
Charles F. Moreira
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