Works Ministry tasked to examine selection of contractors and consultants

(The Star) KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has ordered a review of the procedure on the appointment of contractors and consultants following the roof collapse of the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium’s roof in Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu.

The Works Ministry has been tasked to review the rules, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was commenting on the roof collapse of the newly opened RM300mil stadium.

Muhyiddin said the issue was discussed at length at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting and it viewed the incident as something that should not have happened.

“We view this very seriously. The Works Ministry will look into reviewing the rules. Going by the current situation, when we appoint a contractor, then the contractor appoints a consultant.”

Muhyiddin said although this was to enable more parties to take part in the contract, quality could not be compromised.

“They need to look into this and tighten the rules so that it does not happen again,” he said.

As for the possibility of corruption that led to the collapse of the roof, Muhyiddin said such assumptions could not be made yet.

“Action against the contractor is up to the state government,” he said, adding that it was fortunate that the incident did not take place when the stadium was in actual use.

Muhyiddin also said that the stadium was officially handed over to the state government seven months ago.

The stadium is part of the modern Gong Badak sports complex, which was built at an initial cost of RM250mil but the amount surged by an additional RM50mil due to soaring prices of building materials.

The indoor stadium, which is also part of the complex, was built at a cost of RM160mil.

The roof on the stadium’s left wing was ravaged after the iron frame structure supporting the 300m-long roof destabilised, causing it to fold.

The affected zones were the main entrance, royal podium and the public seating area.