The decision by the state government to call off the search for Lim Chin Aik and to reopen Jalan Macalister by tomorrow has hampered police investigations at the site.

NONE A senior police officer said the Penang Fire and Rescue Department had brought in two K9 unit sniffer dogs to search for Lim's ( right ) body in the crater but the plan was aborted.

“We cannot continue with our investigation at the site because the hole is being filled up. There is no way we can find any evidence with sand being dumped into it,” he said, adding that the dogs waited in a mobile kennel.

The police were given until Thursday by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to conduct investigations .

The report from the investigation headed by state police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi would be handed over to the Attorney-General’s Chamber to decide if an inquest was required.

Ahmad Zahid ( below ) said based on the findings of the inquest, he would direct the National Registration Department (NRD) to issue a death certificate to Lim’s family.

NONE Yesterday, Penang Hospital Forensic Department director Dr Zahari Noor led a team of pathologists to sift through mud to look for Lim's body parts but none were found.

Police would also be interviewing Lim's family members to assist in the investigation.

“This is another way to ascertain his whereabouts. In this case, the family need not wait for seven years to confirm his death. This case is special and they should be able to obtain the death certificate soon,” said the police spokesperson.

Repair work under way

Meanwhile, work has started to restore the utility lines and to fill up the crater.

A number of utility lines and underground water pipes had burst when the structure on top of Menara Umno collapsed during a storm , killing a foreign worker.

NONE Lim was believed to have been trapped in his car in a 7-metre deep crater caused by the pole but the search for his body was called off on Monday morning because of fears the excavation would cause the ground to be unstable.

A Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) officer said utility cables belonging to Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd and Digi Telecomunications were being restored.

“We are working hard to ensure the cables are restored to meet tomorrow's deadline set by the state government," the officer, who declined to be identified, said.

He said the Penang Water Supply Authority repaired a 12-inch water pipe a few days ago, and Indah Water Konsortium had also repaired a number of pipes.

The officer said the section of the road could only be filled up after the water from the crater had been drained.

He said the crater would be filled with "corridas" - a combination of crushed gravel and construction waste - to stabilise the ground by "backfilling".

NONE "The ground stabilisation activity is important to reduce the risk of cracks and buildings collapsing in surrounding areas," he said.

During the search operations, parts of a Honda City car, believed to belong to Lim, were recovered from the crater.

Lim body, however, was not found.

- The Malay Mail

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