Accountability must be established swiftly and firm action taken against any parties found to have breached safety regulations
WE are saddened by the tragic crane collapse at the Malakoff Power Plant in Pontian, Johor, which has resulted in the loss of lives and serious injuries. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims, and I wish the injured a full and speedy recovery.
This incident is a stark reminder that workplace safety is non-negotiable.
Preliminary indications suggest that Occupational Safety and Health requirements were not fully practised but we leave it to the authority concerned to carry out a full and transparent investigation to determine the actual cause of this tragic incident.
In a high-risk workplace, such as the Malakoff Power Plant, strict safety protocols must be observed at all times.
We urge the authorities, particularly the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, to conduct a thorough, transparent and independent investigation to determine the root causes of this collapse.
Accountability must be established swiftly and firm action taken against any parties found to have breached safety regulations, including contractors, supervisors and management where applicable.
This tragedy must serve as a wake-up call to all employers and industry players.
Safety training, equipment maintenance, risk assessments and strict supervision cannot be treated as mere compliance exercises.
Lives depend on them.
The government should also consider stronger enforcement, higher penalties and more frequent inspections at high-risk workplaces to ensure safety standards are not only written on paper but practised on the ground.
No job should ever cost a worker their life. We owe it to the victims and their families to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye
Chairman
Alliance for a Safe Community
