MELAKA, Oct 11 — The state government has instructed the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) to work with relevant authorities to trace the real owner of the three-storey building that collapsed and claimed the life of a Bangladeshi construction worker yesterday.
State senior executive councillor senior for housing, local government, drainage, climate change and disaster management Datuk Rais Yasin said he understood that the building owner has remained elusive since the incident, which also injured two other Pakistani workers.
He said MBMB was also informed that the construction had violated all related standard operating procedures (SOP), but no complaints were lodged from any party.
“I was made to understand that MBMB has yet to (identify) the real owner of the building and land because the building has operated as a wholesale supermarket and exhibition and sales gallery before.
“So, MBMB will continue searching so that we can know the real status of the building construction,” he said.
Rais said this after visiting the site of the collapsed building at Bukit Senjuang, Banda Hilir here today, accompanied by Melaka Fire and Rescue Department deputy director R. Saiful Iswandy R. Hasan.
He also confirmed that MBMB has never received any application from the owner of the land or building in question to carry out the construction.
Yesterday, Bernama reported that a Bangladeshi worker died while two Pakistanis were injured in the collapse of a three-storey building that was under construction.
Meanwhile, MBMB Mayor Datuk Shadan Othman confirmed that the building was constructed without permission from the local authorities.
He said a check revealed that the privately owned company did not submit any construction application to the local authorities.
“Therefore, MBMB has cordoned the area to prevent any further construction and is in the process of imposing a maximum fine of RM50,000 on the building owner under the existing legislation," he said when contacted by the media today.
Shadan said under Section 70(1) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, no one is allowed to erect a structure without prior written permission from the local authorities.
He added that his team is also investigating the type of building intended to be constructed and the date it was started, as there were no signs of permits or tenders displayed at the construction site.
"We will summon the owner of the building this coming Monday for further investigation," he said.
— Bernama
