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Culprit in hospital ceiling collapse still undetermined

March 28, 2011

Liow point to parts of the Serdang Hospital ceiling which gave way, January 31, 2011. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 — The findings of the investigation on the collapse of the ceiling in the main lobby of Serdang Hospital last January will determine the actual party that should bear the cost of repair, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

The cost to repair and replace the 2,500 sq metre ceiling is estimated at RM800,000, he said in written reply to Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Serdang) at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Teo had wanted to know the causes of the collapse, cost of repair, actual party responsible to bear the cost of repair and moves taken by the ministry to ensure structural safety of the hospital building.

It is reported that a team, comprising the Public Works Department (PWD), had been set up to investigate whether the collapse was caused by a structural, design or maintenance failure.

Liow said that since the investigation was still ongoing, the ministry, with the approval from the PWD, would tear down the entire ceiling in the main lobby as safety measures.

“To ensure that the incident will not recur, the ministry will propose for the ceiling to be replaced by a type of ceiling that is lighter and easy to maintain,” he added. — Bernama