New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: It is essential for those involved in earthworks and construction activities to thoroughly monitor and manage their operations to prevent incidents like the recent sinkhole in Masjid India area here, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said.
The Alliance for Safe Community chairman said proper quality control is crucial to avoid ground failure and sinkholes.
"Investigations conducted by the relevant agencies found that the sinkhole incident was caused by several factors, namely, human activities, weather, and underground soil erosion.
"As such, those involved in earthworks, construction activities, infrastructure works and improvement of the public facilities among others must closely monitor their operations.
"They must ensure that their work is of high quality and does not lead to issues like ground failure or soil instability beneath the road surface," he told the New Straits Times.
Lee also called for regular safety audits to ensure that areas where work has been completed remain safe.
"The safety audits must be part and parcel of the work that the contractors or the authorities have undertaken.
"This is all to ensure safety in the public interest," he said.
On Aug 23, G. Vijaya Lakshmi, 48, a tourist from India, went missing after falling into an eight-metre deep hole caused by a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India while en route to a nearby temple.