I refer to the Malaysiakini report ' Killer bridge' contractor blacklisted .

Quite often, contractors are blamed for structural collapses. One should know that there are many parties and factors involved in construction. The bigger the project, the more parties that are involved.

According to BN Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir, the bridge was built illegally. We need to ask the following questions to get to the truth of the tragedy. This is vital to give justice to the dead victims.

1. Why was construction allowed to proceed?

It was a bridge, not a small, street food stall hiding behind a tree. Enforcement officials have eagle eyes to spot such illegal food stalls or illegal extension to residential houses. They then take legal action to stop the construction or demolish them. Just wonder why they did not notice this bridge’s construction.

2. Why didn't they demolish the bridge right in the beginning since it was constructed ‘without getting the proper building sanctions from the relevant authorities’ to quote MB Zambry.

Since the bridge was an illegal construction, the local authority could have used its bulldozers and demolition teams assisted by police personnel to demolish the bridge. They are empowered to do so.

3. Why was it allowed to be used by students upon completion?

The local authority or ‘majlis tempatan’ or other government body should have stopped the bridge from being used since it was illegal construction. They should have known of the consequences of using illegal structures.

3. Which authority allowed it to be used?

Was it the JKR, the Land Office, the Education Department, the ‘majlis tempatan’ or some other body or nobody?

4. Did the investigation team consider soil erosion at the foundation by river water as a possible cause of the collapse?

To recount the Highland Towers tragedy more than ten years ago, experts then concluded that soil erosion at foundation due to underground water was the main cause of the building’s collapse. Similarly, this might be the cause of this bridge collapse at Kuala Dipang.

5. Had the contractor been paid for the bridge construction regardless of whether it was partial or full payment? If yes, those who authorised payment are equally guilty because they are paying for something done illegally. This leads us to last question.

6. Who were the prime movers for this contract?

We believe this is a government project as it is a bridge connecting a school. It is unlikely to be a private project so therefore the government is probably the prime mover and mist be held accountable.