YOURSAY ‘This is accountability like we have not seen before in this country.’
MRT Corp CEO resigns over fatal accident
Aries46: It is so heartbreaking when foreign workers who have left their loved ones back home to earn a living here become victims of such tragedies.
My deepest heartfelt condolences to the families of the three Bangladesh workers and I hope that MRT Corp would adequately compensate them.
My admiration to Azhar Abdul Hamid for having resigned as a show of concern and responsibility for the incident, an almost unheard of act in Bolehland. I remember having worked with him a long time back and knew him to be a decent and concerned boss.
CQ Muar: My tribute and respect to Azhar who did the most honourable thing by tendering his resignation with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the transport minister, and those responsible under the portfolio should also do likewise, which was the case in other countries such as Japan or South Korea.
This is to ensure the safety of all construction workers, which should never be compromised.
Ib: This is accountability like we have not seen before in this country. Well done. The contract of the contractor must be terminated. All other contractors must be take note to ensure no other lives are lost.
Many construction companies can afford to ignore the rules because they have direct 'cables' to the powerful individuals in the cabinet and economic council.
Come to think about it, if Azhar has tried reining in these contractors and have been ignored, it’s time for him to report to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Cronyism and nepotism are all part of corruption.
J Ng: Azhar’s voluntary resignation to take responsibility for the mishap is indeed commendable and rare in Malaysia.
However, he should be around in the interim notice period to punish and terminate those responsible. Public and workers’ safety must be given top priority by all involved. Contractors and MRT supervisory staff who cannot comply must be sacked.
A suggestion is to record mishaps/accidents of each construction site and have them posted for public viewing. This will ensure, and constantly remind, all involved of their safety compliance.
They...: Hats off to Azhar for doing the right thing. The man has a conscience. At least one person in this country cares about accountability, integrity and responsibility.
Dalvik: This is a rare, and unprecedented, resignation in living memory. It should be practiced in both government and private sector.
While we mourn for the victims, let's hope this resignation will bear fruit in setting a more stringent safety standard in the construction industry.
llowMalaysian: While Azhar's resignation showed due responsibility and accountability shouldered by him and MRT Corp, it is hoped that this lesson will create an awareness among those involved in the construction industry the acute lack of attention that the industry pays to occupational health and safety measures of workers at worksites.
There are regulatory and enforcement bodies set up by the government such as DOSH (Department of Occupational Safety and Health) and CIDB (Construction Industry Development Board) whose roles are to take action against negligent parties but more often than not, their powers and effectiveness would have been emasculated by those linked to 'higher authorities' before any punitive action could be taken against the culprits.
The many recent accidents among the MRT and LRT construction projects where some have almost claimed the lives of motorists speak of the dire need of reform in mindset as well as in taking serious actions against the perpetrators.
Baiyuensheng: Three workers died and everyone commented how heroic the former MRT Corp CEO is. These workers families just lost a husband, brother, son and father. This tragedy could have avoided if the contractors are professional and competent.
Main contractor MRT's inspection team enforcing safety on worksites has apparently failed. And the relevant government bodies did not do their part vigorously enough in checking whether construction companies flout safety regulations. Where are they?
Contracting out to competent companies must be based on merits. Otherwise tragedy like this is waiting to happen - like the collapse of the stadium roof in Kuala Terengganu. I feel sad for these workers and my condolences to their families for their great losses.
Abasir: A few months ago, a visiting high-rise hard hat from Sydney told me that the MRT sites are potential disaster zones.
He had seen the narrow clearance around the sites, noted the flimsy/torn safety netting on the piers, the proximity of vehicles and people moving past unfinished structures and the mostly disconnected barricades and markers around nearly all sites.
He wondered whether anyone is actively and independently monitoring safety standards through unannounced spot checks on men and equipment.
It is now clear his concerns were valid. While Azhar's resignation is to be lauded, what is really required is a total review of all aspects of construction and management.
MRT Corp chairperson Ali Hamsa, who obviously will not be held accountable (because he is an Umno appointee), cannot be expected to do the right thing. He should be told to step down and be replaced by someone technically competent and be truly accountable.
A hard act to for politicians to follow
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