Klang Municipal Council staff charged over botched fireworks incident

KLANG: Two Klang Municipal (MPK) council employees were today charged in the magistrates court over the botched fireworks incident on Jan 1 that saw 15 people getting injured by exploding fireworks.
They were charged separately over the New Year's event at the Pandamaran Sports Complex.
Administrative assistant Mohd Nizam Saad, 33, was charged under Section 337 of the Penal Code for causing hurt by endangering the life or personal safety of others in launching the fireworks.
MPK Corporate and Social Department director Zaireezal Ahmad Zainuddin, 41, was charged as an accomplice, under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 337, in directing Mohd Nizam to launch the fireworks.
They pleaded not guilty but they can be jailed for up to six months, fined RM1,000 or both upon conviction.
Magistrate Mariam Maran Abdullah @ Lusia Muda Maran set bail for Mohd Nizam at RM1,500 with a surety and fixed April 20 for mention after his lawyer asked for lower bail.
Zaireezal Ahmad's counsel also asked for lower bail to be set.
Magistrate Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi set bail at RM2,000 with a surety and fixed April 11 for mention and documents submission.
MPK was the organiser of the three day Gegar Klang Fiesta from Dec 30 to Jan 1. Fifteen people, four of whom were children, were injured when they were hit by fragments of fireworks when it exploded on the ground at the Pandamaran Sports Complex during the new year celebration.
Klang Selatan Police chief ACP Alzafny Ahmad had said the police were invited to a meeting once by the organiser, MPK on Nov 24 but did not participate in any other discussion on the matter after that.
He added that MPK had not applied for a permit and there was a need for licensed experts supervising and overseeing fireworks display.