Roof of one-year old stadium collapsed

(NST) A huge chunk of the roof at the RM280 million Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium collapsed this morning, just over a year after its completion. Except for damages to a car and four motorcycles parked outside the stadium, there were no casualties in the 9.30am incident at the venue of the 12th Malaysia Games.

Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department director Pauzan Ahmad said they received a call around 9.45am, informing them about the incident before rushing three fire trucks to the scene. He estimated that one third of the stadium's roof, which runs about 80 metres, collapsed. About 50 per cent of the roof collapsed.

A witness, electrician Hanafiah Osman, 27, whose car was damaged in the incident, said he was working on one of the lamp post just outside the stadium when he heard a loud cracking sound.

"I turned around in time to see it crashing down. I was frightened but at the same time wanted to save my Perodua Kancil until I saw it crushed. Most of my colleagues just stood in awe over the whole thing," he said, adding he wants to claim damages for his car.

Stadium Management Board chief executive officer Arpin Draman said it was fortunate that no event was held at the 50,000-capacity stadium as part of the roof collapsed on the grandstand.

At the time of the incident, only a handful of the stadium employees were working nearby. "I could not help imagine the worst case scenario should the roof caved in during an event when thousands of spectators were in the grand stand," he said.

Arpin said he never doubted the stadium's safety as assurance had been given by the State Public Works Department. State PWD director Rosly Zainal, who was approached by reporters, refused to comment.

"We have a bowling alley and squash courts in the stadium and it was fortunate the roof fell before they opened at 10am. The stadium will be out of commission until investigations and repairs are completed," Arpin said.