The tragedy happened on last thursday, 30th May 2009 about 4.45 pm when the building collapsed. Historically, Jaya Supermarket building was a well-known landmark for Petaling Jaya since 1974 (I was only born 6 years after that). About the tragedy, i have questions pending to be answered in my head. Among the questions are:
How does our construction industry (in Malaysia) is monitored?
Did they monitor enough in terms of giving approval for this such 'redevelopment' project?
Are the implementation on the work done after the approval monitored?
I'm asking because I was not a civil engineering student, so of course I didn't know and didn't understand the procedure for it. But no matter what answer I will get for the two questions above, one more question will be harder to be answered. Does all building we live in, work in and shop in are 100% safe to be lived in, worked in and shop in? How do we answer this question when car park of Jaya Supermarket building that was only approved by the Local Council to be extended for only 6 storey became 10 storey?. It was the story of early 90's where the disaster took place after approximately 18 years after that. How about other structure around us?. Is it really safe for ourself and our families? Thank god this Jaya Supermarket tragedy happened in the middle of the process to redevelop it and not before or after that to be risky enough for the life of public. It is not impossible for this tragedy to happen on other structure, if no comprehensive and consistent measure be put into place. May this tragedy act as a guide for a better and safer living for Malaysian.
p/s: Until this blog were written, 4 construction worker has been found killed in this tragedy. May god bless them. 12 houses near the tragedy area also has been ordered to be cleared in order for the authorities to run the demolishing for the whole of the structure left.
Info on Jaya Supermarket - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaya_Supermarket
