Make the collapsed condo probe findings public, says NGO

NGO Protect Taman Desa Coalition urges the findings of the probe for the collapse of part of the structure of the 37-storey "The Address" condominium under construction in the area to be made public.

This was after Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad said a thorough investigation must be carried out to ascertain the real cause of the collapse on Friday.

The NGO's committee member Philip Phang, in a media conference today said no stone must be left unturned.

"Protect Taman Desa Coalition asks that the findings of the investigation to be made public.

"There must be total transparency without compromise," he said.

Yesterday, Khalid said there was a possibility of structural specifications not followed, causing the partially-built building to collapse from the sixth floor to the bottom.

If the findings supported Khalid's claim, Phang (below) said the remaining structure must be demolished immediately to avoid it from becoming an abandoned project.

"If investigations reveal the partial collapse arose from structural failures, and the structural integrity of the entire building is compromised, the developer, including its directors, must be made to ensure that whatever remaining structures are demolished immediately.

"This is to not create a further public nuisance as an abandoned project and mosquito breeding ground," he said.

Phang also questioned if workers involved with the construction have been screened and accredited with the right skills and training.

"Investigations must ascertain if the workers carrying out the construction work have been screened and certified for their competencies to carry out the construction works assigned.

"It is obvious that foreign workers are deployed heavily by contractors," he said.

While the developer claimed the collapse occurred when workers were carrying out concrete casting for the swimming pool, Phang claimed that residents of the Tiara Faber condo, located near the project, reported that the swimming pool was already completed sometime back.

"Some photos taken then which has surfaced show that the swimming pool, which is located at the back-end, appears to be completed."

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin had said that the construction of the building has been ordered to cease immediately pending investigation by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh).

Phang said this is not the first time an untoward incident happened at the site.

In January 2019, a crane working on the site of Address Phase 1 collapsed into Tiara Faber condominium, he said.

"It damaged the boundary wall and utility services building. Fortunately, there were neither injuries nor casualties as it occurred on a working day.

In the recent incident, two construction workers had to be rescued after being trapped under the debris when the building collapsed.

If completed, The Address will have three towers with 30-storeys each on a narrow strip of land which was once Tenaga Nasional Bhd reserve land.

Taman Desa residents had once mounted a fierce campaign against the project because the reserve land was designated as a green lung under the Kuala Lumpur Master Plan 2020.

However, their protest was not heeded and their lawsuits against Kuala Lumpur City Hall were not successful.

Khalid: Taman Desa condo may not have followed specifications

Collapsed condo project to cease construction pending probe - Minister

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Yet another under-construction condo collapse