'House owner didn't get approval'

New Straits Times Online, 20 October 2012

SHAH ALAM: The renovation of a double-storey luxury house in Jalan Jed 7/5 in Section 7, where a concrete slab collapsed on Thursday, killing an Indonesian worker and injuring five others, was done without permission from the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).

Shah Alam mayor Datuk Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan said MBSA did not receive any application from the owner to add or change the original structure of the house and the one next to it.

"The area has 26 luxury houses with five different designs built by developer Sejagat Emas Sdn Bhd and Selangor State Development Corporation.

"The building plan was approved on Oct 21, 2009 and the Certificate of Completion and Compliance was issued on Dec 29, 2011.

"Currently, four houses in the area are undergoing renovation. Our investigations revealed that two owners have applied for renovation permit while another two, including one with the collapsed concrete slab, have not."

Jaafar said the owner was now being investigated under Section 70(1) of the Drainage and Building Act and Act 133 for commencing renovation work without approval.

If convicted, the owner can be jailed for a day and fined RM250,000.

In Kuala Lumpur, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the construction industry must ensure occupational safety and health for all those working at construction sites.

He said said every construction site had to take the issue of workplace safety seriously.

Cetak