Plans to clear the debris at the Sultan Mizal Zainal Abidin stadium in Kuala Terengganu will be finalised next week after the state’s tender board names its contractor of choice.

NONE The Public Works Department (PWD), which is operating in an advisory role to the state, said they have narrowed down the list of 48 contractors and will arrive at a decision soon.

PWD director-general Judin Abdul Karim ( left ) acknowledged that it has been a long wait since the stadium’s roof collapsed in June last year, but stressed that it was largely unavoidable.

“Clearing up the debris is very complex. The stadium is a steel structure and if you simply pull it, you may pull the whole building down,” he said at a press conference at the PWD headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Judin explained that the PWD needed time to go through the 48 proposals put forward by the prospective contractors, as every single detail is critical in making sure the selected contractor can do the job properly and safely.

“This is not something that happens every day here. Nobody has a track record (in managing complex structural collapses). You must have a competent consultant who understands structural behaviour.

“That is why the state PWD felt it was better to refer the matter to the federal headquarters.”

Design changes possible cause

But even before the PWD could recommend that the state government start looking for contractors to clear the rubble, Judin said they had to first investigate the cause of the collapse.

terengganu gong badak stadium collapse sultan mizan 020609 “The collapse of the roof structure ( right ) has compromised the stadium’s structure and we cannot give a guarantee on its stability.

“We also found changes to the original design that were made during construction. There is a large possibility that this is the cause of the structural weakness.”

Judin said that the delay was also compounded by the stadium’s original contractor, who he said refused to clean up the mess.

He however declined to reveal the estimated cost of clearing the debris and the eventual repairs, saying that it is better for the tender process to be completed before any announcements are made.

Yesterday, Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said demanded that clearing work at the stadium be done as soon as possible.

Ahmad said he was disappointed that nothing has been done since the roof collapse a full year ago.