MELAKA: The partially-constructed building at Jalan Bukit Senjuang in Bandar Hilir here that collapsed on Friday (Oct 11) was an unlawful structure says Datuk Shadan Othman.
The Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) mayor said the construction of the three-storey building was carried out illegally and had no planning permission or submission of the architectural design plan to the council.
“It’s a brazen act of violating the law as the owner failed to submit and obtain necessary approvals for the construction of the building,” he said when contacted on Saturday (Oct 12).
Shadan said the violation on the part of the owner was discovered after he and his officers visited the incident site on Friday.
“We found out that the owner of the building had violated Section 70(1) of the Streets, Drainage, and Building Act 1974 for carrying out construction without the prior written permission of the local authority during our inspection at the site.
“Any owners that plan to carry out development projects need to fully comply with the relevant procedures and regulations,” he added.
Shadan said the site has been sealed until the investigation is fully completed as well as issuance of a stop work order and MBMB is in the process of issuing a maximum compound of RM50,000 to the owner.
On Friday (Oct 11), a 22-year-old Bangladeshi construction worker died after a structure of a building at a construction site collapsed.
The body of the victim was retrieved by rescue personnel from the rubble at around 12.20 am on Saturday (Oct 12).
Two other victims, all from Pakistan, were pulled out from the site and taken to the Melaka hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, residents of an apartment, near the collapsed site claimed that the construction of the building was carried out at a rapid pace.
A 45-year-old resident who requested anonymity said that she was surprised to see the second floor of the structure was erected in just a week.
“I don’t know why there was a rush to complete the building and I am sure the safety procedures were not adhered,” she said.
